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Time Management

The exam period is a time when levels are higher than usual. Stress can be positive- helping you to stay motivated and focused. However, too much stress can be unhelpful- it can make you feel overwhelmed, confused, exhausted and edgy. It's important to try and keep things in perspective and find ways of reducing stress if things seem to be getting on top of you. This factsheet gives you some suggestions of things you can do to maximise your study time and help you learn better.

Suggestions for Helping you Through Exams!

Study Habits

Study Area – Having a good study area can make a huge difference to how well you learn. Study in a well lit, quiet area, away from noises and people in the house. If this is impossible, it might be better to study at the library. Make sure your desk is tidy and organised - it means you can concentrate on studying and learning, not trying to find information.

Find Out About the Exam –Find out what format the exam will take i.e. Are the questions in essay, short answer or multiple choice format? Knowing how the exam is marked and what proportion of your total mark it’s worth might also be helpful.

To Do Lists - Make a to-do list before each study session. Breaking tasks down into small, manageable tasks will make it less overwhelming. Cross them off with a marker/pencil as you go.

Past Exam Papers - Ask your teacher for past exam papers. They can be a useful insight into what your exam will be like and can also provide a guide for what you know and the areas in which you need help. If possible, practice some under exam conditions and get your teacher to mark them.

Study Groups -Forming a studying group can be a helpful way to revise your notes and work through past exam questions (it can also help you feel supported, keep you motivated and focused). If you have questions about your work, a study group may be a good place to have them answered. Ask your teacher if they know of anyone else interested in studying with other people.

Switch the Phone / Email Off! - If you find that you are being distracted by the phone or emails, it might help to put the answering machine on or get others in the house to take messages for a while. You can always ring people back later.

Wallpaper - Write down key concepts you have to learn on small sheets of paper followed by examples of how they are used. Post these sheets around your house, e.g. your bed, on the toilet door, in front of the CD collection. It helps with remembering things like equations, formulas, diagrams and quotes.

Ask Lots of Questions of your Teachers or Tutor! Your teacher or tutor can help if you are having trouble developing a study routine or need help with understanding subjects or a particular topic. Asking for help doesn't mean you're a failure or stupid - it's smart to tap into their experience and knowledge to help you perform better. Keep going back to them if you're still unsure or you have more questions. It's their job to be available for you.

Know your Preferred Learning Style - Some people work better using text based memory tools, like acronyms (e.g. BODMAS- Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction). Other people find more visual tools more useful like mind maps or tree diagrams. Take Regular Breaks - Getting up, moving around and away from your desk at least every 50 minutes for 10 minutes makes you concentrate and learn better.

Revise and Learn (Not Just Re-Read) - Sometimes reading through notes doesn't result in learning or understanding. Include the following in revising each topic:

Vocabulary, technical terms definitions
Summaries of points
Formulae, rules, diagrams, charts
Ability to understand relationships

Time Management

Avoid Procrastination - Procrastination is when you do everything else but the task you need to do. It is normal to procrastinate a little. However too much procrastination can just add to your stress and can result in you not giving yourself enough time to prepare. Managing your time and setting realistic goals for each study session can be helpful ways to avoid procrastinating and make tasks seem less overwhelming.

Make a Study Timetable – Write down all the things you need to do each day of the week, and how long you need for each, including time for enough sleep, relaxation, and exercise. Find out the date of each exam and work out a study timetable leading up to them. Include tests that will help you identify gaps in your knowledge. This can give you some direction and help you focus on what to study each week or day.

Use your Frees - Studying in the school library during your frees gives you access to lots of information available on the reference shelves. Some material, such as sample solutions, often can’t be taken out of the library or can be too long to photocopy.

Exam Time: Hints for Managing Stress Exams are a time when stress levels are higher than usual. Stress can be positive, helping you to stay motivated and focused. However, too much stress can be unhelpful, it can make you feel overwhelmed, confused, exhausted and edgy. It's important to try and keep things in perspective and find ways of reducing stress if things seem to be getting on top of you.

Suggestions for Managing Exam Stress
Effective Study Habits - Many people feel overwhelmed at exam time - having to revise a lot of information in a short space of time and not understanding course material can be a big stress.

Keep your Routine Outside Studying and Take Regular Breaks - It's important to have regular study breaks and time for relaxation and exercise. Going for a walk, run, or to the gym is not a waste of time, it is a great way to clear your head and help you study better. Watching your favourite TV show or going to the movies are also good ways to take a break from studying.

Limit Drugs - Caffeine (e.g. coffee) and other drugs (e.g. coke) give you a short lift before making you crash and burn. They can make you feel sick, and unable to sleep or concentrate properly. You actually study better with regular breaks, getting lots of sleep, and from exercising (really!).

Have a Number of Options for the Future - Getting the marks to get into your first preference is great, but it's not the end of the world if you don't - there are other options to get into your course. These include deferring and getting some practical experience in your field, doing further study, writing to the university, retaking some subjects in some cases, or transferring in after a year or two. And, if you do accept another offer, you may even find that you like it.

Manage Expectations - External pressures around exams can be huge. It can be hard to deal with, especially with family and people you respect, but you need to remember that it's your life and your exam, with you in control. Things that might help you manage expectations:

Base expectations on your past performance and doing the best you can do.

Put the exam in context. In the scheme of your life, how important is it? If you don't do as well as you'd hoped there are always other alternatives. It's not going to dictate whether you are a good or a bad person, or whether you are a success or failure. Exams can't measure these sorts of things - all they measure is how well you can present the material asked for by the examiner; nothing more, nothing less.

Take it as a compliment (admittedly this can be easier said than done). These people want you to do well, and think that you are capable of achieving. Their definition of 'achieving' is sometimes a little (or a lot) misguided, so you need to educate people about what you think is realistic. Talk to them, find out what they hope for you, and tell them what you are thinking and feeling.

Use the expectations of yourself and others to assist your studying. Talk to people about how you are feeling, see if they have any advice or help they can offer. It's important to ask for, and accept support from those around, especially family members. Look After Your Body - It's easy to let exams get on top of you and to forget to look after yourself. If possible try to get a good night sleep. It's a good time to make an effort to eat healthy, including eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Ask for and Accept Support - If you're feeling overwhelmed, you might find it helpful to talk to a teacher or counsellor. It's also important to ask for, and accept, support from your family if you can. This support might be practical, like picking you up from the library, or emotional, including advice or help.

Look After Your Body - It's easy to let exams get on top of you and to forget to look after yourself. If possible try to get a good night sleep. It's a good time to make an effort to eat healthy, including eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Ask for and Accept Support - If you're feeling overwhelmed, you might find it helpful to talk to a teacher or counsellor. It's also important to ask for, and accept, support from your family if you can. This support might be practical, like picking you up from the library, or emotional, including advice or help.

Remember...

There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Exams have a beginning and an end, and the stress that goes along with them should end with the exam. Once the paper's in, there's nothing more you can do to (legally) influence the outcome - which means it's now time to chill and enjoy the summer.

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