Exams can be challenging, but with good preparation and a positive mindset, you can tackle them with confidence. Here’s a comprehensive survival guide to help you through your GCSEs, A Levels, or university exams.

Be Prepared

• Organise Your Exam Timetable: Make a list of your exams in order and mark them on a calendar. This helps you keep track of which exams are coming up.
• Understand Requirements of Each Exam: Know how each exam is marked and its duration. Ask your teachers and tutors, or check the exam board’s website for details. Reviewing past exam papers can be very helpful.
• Identify Revision Needs: Speak to your teachers and tutors or check the exam board’s website to know what you need to revise. Use revision guides from libraries or shops, and ask for revision packs if available.
• Gather Necessary Equipment: Ensure you have all the required equipment for each exam. This can help reduce anxiety on the exam day.

Create Your Environment

• Find a Comfy Revision Space: Select a comfortable spot where you can concentrate without interruptions.
• Minimise Distractions: Avoid phones, games, social media, and television while revising.
• Keep Healthy Snacks and Water Handy: Nuts, bananas, and water can boost your energy levels.
• Decorate Your Space: Use inspirational quotes and images to motivate yourself.
• Stay Organised: Keep your space tidy to maintain a positive mood.

Break It Down

• Divide Revision into Manageable Chunks: Create a checklist of topics for each subject and mark your confidence level for each.
• Make a Study Schedule: Plan your revision time based on the exam dates and try to stick to it. Keep it to hand so you can easily remind yourself of what you should be studying and when.
• Study at Your Optimal Time: Think about the best time of day when you are most productive. Then schedule your study sessions around this.
• Revisit Topics Regularly: Review topics the next day and weekly to reinforce long-term memory.
• Allocate More Time to Difficult Topics: Spend extra time on areas you find challenging.
• Ask for Help: Don’t hesitate to seek assistance from teachers, tutors, friends, or family if you’re struggling.

Take Regular Breaks

• Study in Intervals: For example try 45-minute study sessions followed by 20-minute breaks.
• Change Your Environment During Breaks: Move to a different room, take a walk, talk to someone, or read a book.

Set Realistic Goals

• Avoid Overloading: Focus on one or two topics each night.
• Take a Night Off Weekly: Try to give yourself a break from revision once a week.
• Start Early: Begin revising early to spread out your study time.

You and Your Body

• Eat Healthily: Maintain a balanced diet and avoid high-sugar or caffeinated food and drinks.
• Stay Active: Aim for 30 minutes of exercise daily, whether it’s sports, dancing, walking, swimming, try to do an activity you enjoy.
• Get Enough Sleep: Aim for 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Wind down before bed by avoiding screens.
• Practice Deep Breathing: If you feel stressed, take deep breaths and step away from the situation for a while.

Time to Talk

• Utilise Your Support Network: Talk to friends, teachers, family, or professionals if you feel overwhelmed.
• Maintain Positive Relationships: Balance your study time with social interactions to keep a healthy mindset.

Revise Your Way

• Identify Your Learning Style: Cater your revision to what works best for you.
• Visual Learners: Use flow charts or pictorial notes.
• Auditory Learners: Record yourself reading texts and listen to them.
• Kinesthetic Learners: Practice answering questions repeatedly.
• Creative Techniques: Write scripts or stories about topics, or have debates with friends.

DOWNLOAD OUR FULL GUIDE TO EXAMS HERE 

Remember, everyone’s revision journey is unique. Find what works best for you and stay positive. Good luck with your exams!

If you’re at school or a student in Croydon, Merton, or Sutton and feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, we’re here to listen and support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help and guidance. You’re not alone in this journey, and together, we can navigate through these challenging times.