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Tweaking Your Technique For Exams
Sometimes even though you may have prepared well, your exam technique can let you down. This infographic from Study Medicine Europe takes you through how you can improve your technique in exams so you don’t fall at the final hurdle.
Despite having all the best intentions, most people will be doing at least some work the night before the exam. During this final study session, you don’t want to be completely stressed out so it’s vital to try and calm yourself before you even begin. Some light exercise can work well here as it releases endorphins to help keep you calm.
It’s also important to get things right on the morning of the exam to ensure you feel good in the exam hall. Even though you may feel a bit nervous, ensure you have a good breakfast as you don’t want to find yourself hungry during the exam.
When in the exam hall; ensure that you read the instructions carefully, manage time, and present your answers in a structured manner. Answering the question rather than just writing everything you know about a topic is also vital.
Whether the exam goes well or goes badly; try to forget about it as soon as possible. Get ready for the next one and give them your all!
Studying hard is of course vital to achieving the exam results you want but sometimes exam technique can be forgotten. Here’s a realistic approach to the last 24 hours before an exam. Yes, you should have all the work done, but the reality is most of you will still be doing at least some studying the night before.
The night before
How prepared you are in the exam Hall is heavily influenced by how you act the night before. Getting it right is vital.
Top memory tip!
Mind palaces
Visualize a building or a road. Fill your mental image with details, such as what you see in each room or what’s on the other side of the road.
Connect an image of each of the features you see with what you’re studying.
Calm yourself
Don’t go into your final study session feeling restless. Try to do some light exercise before studying to release endorphins and focus your mind. It can often be the last thing you want to do but it really helps to settle you down.
Brain food
It is always very tempting to binge eat when you’re studying, but instead of reaching for another packet of crisps, try a banana. Foods high in protein such as nuts are also great, and you can have them without reading the crash.
Hardest first
Focus on the most difficult subject areas first. You’re mine will be at at sharpest so it makes sense to tackle them and then move to easier topics as a reward for getting the hard work done.
Don’t let the bedbugs bite
Organize your time effectively so you can still get a good night’s sleep. Your brain needs time to process them anyway, so you may as well use that time to sleep.
Translate information into a format that is easier to remember.
One way of doing this is by taking the first letters of a string of information and creating a more memorable phrase that is easier to recalled in the original information.
The morning of
Take a hot shower
Instead of overdosing on caffeine, it is a much better idea to take a shower as it clears your mind-leave you refreshed and rearing to go for the day.
Eat a good breakfast
Even though you might feel like you don’t want one, make sure to at least have something. Completing a test on an empty stomach will make you more irritable and stressed.
Gather everything you need in paragraph this includes all the basics such as pens, etc., but depending on the exam, you may be allowed to bring notes into the hall. You might also need a calculator, so just think of everything you need before leaving the house.
Arrive early
Speaking of leaving the house, make sure you do so with plenty of time to spare. It is a terrible feeling worrying that you’ll be late for an exam.
Top memory tip!
Rhyming
Your rhyme could be modern sounding to help you remember it or you could use rhyming couplets to cement facts in your brain.
This can be an effective way of memorizing large amounts of information and can be more effective than a mnemonic.
In the Exam Hall
IMPRESS
Instructions Read the paper instructions carefully and always double-check the number of questions to be attempted and the time you have.
Manage time make sure that you not only answer the correct amount of questions, but that you spend the right amount of time on each question.
The time you spend on each question should be by the number of marks available.
Presentation planning your answers properly and presenting it clearly is another critical factor.
Structure and present all answers in a clear and concise manner.
![Tweak Your Exam Technique [Infographic]](https://cdn.confessionsoftheprofessions.com/infographics/tweak-your-exam-technique-infographic.jpg)
