An exam, no matter when you do one in life, can be terrifying for most people. It’s the pressure that comes with it and that so much could be riding on how well you do on a single paper. However, for an exam, stressing out is not the solution, so here’s how to best prepare for an exam.
Find A Study Group
When you’re struggling to study alone, being with others who are going through the same thing can be very helpful. So try to find a study group where you’re able to focus on the exam prep, even if you’re not actually speaking to one another. It can be nice to feel that group energy, and it can help motivate you when you’re having a hard time concentrating. Not only that, but you’re able to bounce off one another when someone has a question regarding the exam. If you’re at college, then there will definitely be plenty of people around campus who will form a study group to help others. If it’s an exam that you’re doing around your current job, then see if there are any online study groups that you could get involved with or create your own with whoever might be taking the exam within your workplace. A study group can be a really great incentive for you when it comes to study tips.
Do A Test Run
Whenever you’re studying for an exam, doing a test or dry run can be really handy to take some of that initial pressure off your shoulders. You won’t be able to find the exact paper for the exam online, but you might be able to find similar versions, and you can use this for your test run that you do before sitting the exam. Create the exam environment and time yourself for the length of how much you have in the exam itself. If it’s a verbal exam or presentation, get a friend, colleague or fellow student to watch you and to give constructive feedback on what they thought. There can be a lot of ease that comes with doing a test run, and you’ll go into the exam feeling a bit more prepared than you did before. Be careful not to do too many test runs though, that you end up tiring yourself out in the process.
Create Your Perfect Studying Environment
When you’re not in your study group, there will be plenty of times where you’ll need to study alone, and for this, you need to create your version of the perfect studying environment. You may find that you enjoy listening to music and can concentrate more with your television on in the background. Or you might be the complete opposite and require absolute silence to be able to study efficiently. Everyone’s different, so don’t just create the same atmosphere as your friend or colleague is doing. Do what feels right for you.
Take A Break
Studying can be a pressure for the brain, especially if you’re doing it for hours on end. Try where you can to take a break in order to help reset your brain and get you back into the focused mode you need to be in. Spending so much time on one thing will eventually get boring, and then you’ll find you start procrastinating. When this happens, change up the pace and do something else. Go out for some fresh air, make some food or have a drink with a friend. Break up the studying period with some much-needed breaks when you can.
Use Breathing Techniques Before Your Exam
Breathing techniques can often sound like something that won’t work for you, but often enough, they can actually help to calm your nerves and to make you feel in control. When we’re nervous, we tend to have shorter breaths which can make us feel sick or faint. Slow down your breathing and focus solely on that. Give yourself five minutes to do these breathing exercises before going into the exam. It’s also worth practicing different techniques until you’ve found one that works for you. This can really help calm you and get you ready for the exam ahead.
Preparing for an exam is something that is different for everyone. Find a study group or create the right conditions for you to study properly. Do a test run or two and take a break. Yes, it’s important to study, but you also need to give your brain the time it needs to refocus.
