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Exams are an important type of assessment almost all students will need to undertake in their schooling era (not to be confused with their schoolies era).
If you’re like most students, you’ll find exams can be daunting, especially when they count for a large percentage of marks towards a subject.
But fear not – we’ve got some exam day tips to help you stay cool under pressure and maximise your performance.
Ah, that’s the question, isn’t it? It’s a bit like asking, ‘how long is a piece of string?’
While there’s no specific number of days that suits every student, it’s a smart move to create a study schedule and space out your revision over the weeks leading up to your exams. This approach helps ensure you divide your time evenly between each subject.
To help with your preparation for Year 12 examinations, we asked Associate Professor Kelli Nicola-Richmond from Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development for her top 3 recommendations:
Year 12 and the end of year exams can be a stressful time. As you approach the exam period and plan your study schedule, remember to block out time for yourself.
Whether it is going for a walk or to the gym, catching up with friends or getting your nails done, making time for the things that fill your cup gives you a sense of wellbeing each day.
Even something small like enjoying a cup of tea can help fill your cup (excuse the pun)
Complete the available practice exams and seek feedback from your teacher or friends where you need to.
Use your study schedule to map out a plan for studying for each exam in the lead up to them. (And don’t forget to schedule in the self-care time!)
Whether you dream of being accepted into a university course, completing a trade qualification, or being your own boss, it’s important to recognise that there is no set path for achieving your goals.
While exams can feel like they are your only chance to follow your desired path, this is not the case.
At Deakin, we have students who have reached their goal of studying via many different routes. With persistence and by seeking good advice, there is always another way to get to where you want to go.
If you need support or guidance, Deakin’s Student Central is here to help. Consider reaching out for a chat with one of our student advisers to explore your options and find the best path for you
A healthy, balanced breakfast will ensure you sustain energy and don’t get hungry during the exam.
Think protein and complex carbohydrates (low GI) that will release energy slowly over several hours. It’s also important to stay well-hydrated but not so much that you need a toilet break every 20 minutes.
In terms of snacks, it’s best to avoid sugary snacks that can lead to energy crashes at least until after the exam is over.
Consider fruit like grapes and berries which are easy to consume with one hand (whilst holding a pen in the other) and dark chocolate which has been shown to improve brain function and reduce stress. No need to tell us twice!
The key here is that you’re not distracted by being uncomfortable.
Wear clothes you are comfortable in and take a jacket in case the exam room is cold. To minimise distractions, avoid clothes made from noisy material and jewellery that may dangle against the table.
While this may seem counterintuitive, you shouldn’t necessarily study on the day of exams.
You can re-read summaries but don’t start trying to digest a new concept or learn new material on the day of an exam.
Chances are you’ve already learned everything you’re going to, and new ideas can just lead to confusion with what you already know.
Make sure you take everything you are permitted to have in the exam. There will usually be a checklist of permitted items provided as part of your exam instructions.
Identification and multiple pens (in case one runs out) are almost mandatory. Some exams allow aids such as cheat sheets, textbooks or calculators. You don’t want to be the only person without a crucial tool.
Assoc. Professor Nicola-Richmond is an advocate behind arriving early at your exam so that you do not feel rushed or stressed.
If ever there’s going to be an unexpected event or delayed train, it’s sure to be when you have to be somewhere at a certain time.
Leave a little bit earlier than you normally would to ensure you arrive on time and avoid any last-minute panic.
Arriving early also means you can take advantage of the extra time to grab a coffee or hot choccy and relax before the exam (we know, easier said than done.)
Even if you’re feeling underprepared, negative self-talk, such as ‘My life will be ruined if I fail’, will not help.
Instead, try to imagine that you are in the exam and feeling confident. Before the exam avoid other students who are stressing out – negativity can be contagious.
Use your reading time to scan the whole exam to get an overview of its structure. Read all instructions very carefully to ensure you’re answering what is asked. Identify which sections and questions are compulsory and, where you have a choice of questions, select the one(s) you will answer.
Plan the amount of time you will spend on each question proportional to what they are worth.
For example, if a question is worth 30% of the marks, you should allocate 30% of your time.
Try to use up all the time in the exam and don’t forget to leave some time at the end to review and refine your answers.
Answering easier questions first will boost your confidence and may even allow you to pick up some extra time that you can spend on more difficult questions.
If you’re unsure about a question, leave it until the end.
It can be helpful to jot down key points and concepts you will use to illustrate your answer to a question, before you start writing your detailed response.
This way you can concentrate on writing an articulate answer without trying to remember everything you want to cover at the same time.
Attempt to answer every question. If you don’t know the answer to something, write anything you think might be relevant – it may earn you a couple of extra marks.
Often when you start writing something, more details will come to you. If you’re running out of time, writing some dot points is better than nothing.
Woohoo, another exam done and dusted!
Whether you think you nailed it or didn’t do so well, nothing you say or do after the exam will change your answers so there’s no point dwelling on it.
Instead, reward yourself by doing something you really enjoy, such as shopping, watching a movie or catching up with friends.
After you’ve enjoyed some down time, be sure to reflect on your exam so you can build on strengths and learn from mistakes.
Ask yourself questions like:
Knowing where you can improve will assist your planning and performance for future exam days,
Have you planned what you’ll do once exams are over?
