Monday 02-03-2020 - 10:28

Written by Pari Tavate

The early months of the year are the time when most of us are giving exams or handing in submissions. This time usually warrants for makeshift meals, lack of sleep and lack of motivation. With a majority of spent in the library, you forget that you might have not even brought in a pen to the exam hall. While I can’t say I’ve still mastered the art of turning up for an exam well prepared, there’s some things I’ve practised along the way that can help make giving papers a bit more organised:

1. Stay hydrated 

With the oncoming winter and cold breeze, the cells in our body don’t particularly signal the need for water. In the stress of remembering everything for the big test, we forget to take in our regular water intake, therefore try to have a glass of water every hour.

2. Make flashy flash cards

Having a condensed set of points is always easier to skim through than an entire textbook. After testing a variety of methods to remember key definitions and theorems, the one that’s worked best for me is to make colour coded notes in a notebook. Handwritten notes always work better because you’re registering the information as you write. You could always make a set of flash cards to skim through before the test too.

3. Ditch the all nighter

You can tell yourself you’ll ace it no matter what, but trust me when I say that it’s not going to stop you from zoning out when you’re in the exam hall. Study bit by bit in the month approaching the exam so that you don’t have to cram it all into your head in twelve hours. Pulling all-nighters is not only detrimental for your health, but also doesn’t actively help you learn the material. 

4. Pack your bag the night before

If you’ve still left all your exam prep for the last minute - and we all do - make sure you keep your bag ready with the stationery and tools you need. Your pencil pouch should always have at least four (working!) pens, a pencil, eraser and calculator. Keep a snack for after the test, a packet of tissues, a bottle of water and your flash cards.

5. Sleep early 

Now that you’ve revised your notes and packed your bag, plug that phone into the charger and tuck yourself into bed. If you feel the urge to check Snapchat or scroll through Instagram, remind yourself that you’ll have a lot of time after to do that. Probably wouldn’t want something like this happening in the exam hall. 

6. Don't procrastinate

A lot of times, we end up thinking of alternate scenarios, start googling master’s courses or even thinking of alternative careers where you don’t need a degree. It’s the classic way we all use to justify our procrastination. If you find yourself going online to research things that don’t need immediate attention, take two minutes and redirect yourself to the material you need to know for the exam. 

7. Set an alarm

There’s no guarantee that you won't oversleep, even if you’ve not stayed up past 11 on an exam night. Make sure you set an alarm, or two, or three. There’s apps like Smart Alarm Clock’s for Heavy Sleepers which don’t turn off till you solve math problems. It’s worth getting anything on your hands that’ll stop you from pressing that snooze button.

8. Actually eat something good

Don’t have a cuppa coffee or crisps right before the paper. A glass of cocoa or a bowl of fruit will lighten your mood and help you relax before the exam. 

9. And breathe

Once you get the question paper in your hand and the panic starts bubbling in your tummy, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. It’s very common to freak out once you’re in the exam hall. It’s always worth taking a few minutes, even if it is to relax yourself, to write the paper well. 

Pari Tavate is a MA Creative Writing student at Manchester Metropolitan University.