How to survive your exams
Studying is a big part of exam prep – here’s how to prepare to survive this stressful time!
Exams come with their own kind of stress. So are they challenging? Yes. Impossible? Not even close.
Whether you’re aiming for top marks or just trying not to make it through to the end of the year, we’ve got some tried-and-tested survival tips to help you through.
Have a Big Tidy Up First
When your desk is cluttered with snack wrappers, water bottles, random bits of clothing, and just about all the other odds and ends of your daily life, it can make it incredibly hard to concentrate on studying.
Time for a clean up.
Tidying your space actually clears your brain. You don’t need to overhaul your entire bedroom, but clear your desk, stack your notes, and set yourself up with some fresh cold water and fruit to snack on before you get started.
Set Yourself Rewards
Setting yourself rewards at various intervals can help to give you the motivation to keep going. There are lots of rewards you can set yourself, depending on what you most wish you were doing instead of reading your textbooks.
Here are a few ideas:
- 30 minutes of study = 10 minutes of TikTok
- Finish one subject = the pizza leftovers in the fridge
- Survive the whole day = two episodes of your favourite show
Take Regular Breaks
Forcing yourself to constantly learn and revise will only make your burn out. Instead, set yourself up with regular breaks to help your brain actually absorb what you’re covering.
Try doing 25 minutes study then taking a 5-minute break. Rinse and repeat. After four rounds, take a longer break.
The important thing is that you actually step away from your notes when you take a break. Stretch, hydrate, maybe even take a walk around the block. Just be sure to stick to your break limits so you don’t accidentally end up scrolling for an hour.
Keep It in Perspective
Your school is probably talking about nothing but how important exams are, and how much it matters to get the best grades possible. While they are of course important, they truly are not the end of the world.
Know that an exam does not determine your worth, and a low mark will not stop you from finding an amazing job in the future. In a few years, you won’t even remember what marks you got.
Do your best, but remember that you are only human. It’s ok to make mistakes and remember that even the smartest kids in school are not getting 100%.
Not sure what to do after exams?
If all you can think about is exams right now, that’s perfectly ok. But if you don’t have a plan for what to do after you’re finished with the year, you can come back to ITC later and consider your options.
If you’re interested in travel and tourism, our New Zealand Certificate in Tourism with a strand in Tourism and Travel Level 3 and the New Zealand Certificate in Tourism with a strand in Aviation Level 3 both start in late November in Auckland, so you can sign up and get your next steps locked in – and still get a break over Christmas!
Contact us here to learn more!
Posted in News, Student success | Tagged End of Year, Exams, Study | Leave a reply