Exam Season Management 101

Cramming is a typical method we overuse to pass exams, right?

Final exams of the first semester are coming up very soon, so let me give you this piece of crucial advice not emphasized enough: DON’T JUST WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO STUDY!! I am certain that all your teachers will have reminded you several times to start reviewing the materials, talked about different ways of making a study plan (using visual diagrams or rewriting notes in class; it all depends on what type of learner you are) and not cramming the night before the exam date. However, here are even more ideas: let’s dive into those exam season survival tips! 

1. Divide and Conquer

After the IRP, you’re likely to be left with a massive pile of study materials that you need to go over in order to ace the exam, and you’ll wonder how you will even tackle it. The recommended solution is to split it into smaller topics and take one step at a time. For example, if your textbook has 12 units in total and you have 2 weeks left, review one unit a day and you can easily do it within 12 days and have the 2 remaining days to finalize everything. Go grab a notebook or planner and jot down all the things you need to study in bullet points: don’t write a whole paragraph because it’s hard to trace and check off things you’ve already done. The key to successfully prepare for an exam here is simply to divide up work into realistic amounts so that is possible (but perhaps rather strenuous) to be consistent each day. 

2. Maximize Study Time

During the exam season, you will find those tedious chores more appealing all of sudden, and instead of studying and actually getting things done, you may slack off, doing all those less important tasks, and in the end, you will waste a lot of time. So, one thing to remember is to manage time efficiently.

3. Adequate Sleep 

Sleep is a crucial factor to enhance your memory so that you can consolidate your information and keep it that way for a long period of time. If you intend to stay up late studying, know that’s not the wisest thing to do. Instead, it is more beneficial for you to go to sleep early and have a good rest before the exam.

I believe exam cramming is something that everyone has experienced at least once in their school years. However, if you happen to have a habit of cramming for exams in one or two days of intensive revision, I strongly encourage you to AVOID it at all costs by trying out these tips. It may not be easy at first, but it is possible if you go slow and do not give up halfway.