5 Tips for Effective Preparation for Final Exams

Create a calm and peaceful study environment:

Find a space in your home or your school library, where you can study without any distractions. A quiet environment leads to better attention, better understanding, and better retention of information. A key step here is to rid yourself of your smartphones and disable social media atleast during the time of your study.

Create a realistic schedule:

A realistic schedule takes into account the time you need to study and the time you need a break from studying. Ensure that you set small study sessions, such as 45 minutes, and then allow yourself 10-15 minutes of break, where you can close your eyes or take a walk. This leads to lesser chances of burnout, and makes the next session more fruitful.

Break down your syllabus:

When you break down your syllabus into smaller topics or chapters, you can then prioritise which topics are most important and will need most attention and time. Also, when you break a large syllabus or study material into smaller chunks, your brain perceives it to be a smaller challenge, and then the levels of anxiety and stress tend to also reduce.

Practice, practice, practice:

You may think you are thorough with your information understanding, however, a test setting can be overwhelming. To avoid feeling “blank” or “frozen” during the exam, attempt as many mock tests and past papers in a similar timed and strict setting as your exam will be. Not only will this further your understanding and application of information and lead to a thorough revision, this will ensure you are mentally prepared as well.

Don’t forget to rest:

Taking short breaks during your revision schedule and getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night will ensure that your brain can accurately remember all the information it needs during the exam. Your brain needs to rest to consolidate all new information into memory, and a well-rested brain and body are known to perform better.