If you are about to take an important timed exam paper, whether it’s a GCSE exam paper or a University Degree exam paper, you will no doubt be very nervous. It is understandable to be nervous before taking an exam and a lot of people feel anxious at the thought of taking a timed exam paper. However, there are a number of ways to reduce this anxiety. One of the best ways to reduce any feelings of concern towards exams is to revise thoroughly so you feel confident that you know your chosen topic well.
Revision Advice
Studying for an important exam can be stressful for anyone but this stress will become increasingly stressful if you are unprepared. Therefore, it is important to begin revising a long time before the exam date as this will guarantee that any information can be easily absorbed and therefore easier to recall. There are some brilliant ways to help you revise which will ensure that you will do well the day of the exam.
Past Exam Papers
A growing number of teachers and lectures around the country have begun to notice how past exam papers can effectively help students revise. There are a number of reasons why these previous exam papers can be helpful:
- Questions – You will be able to understand how the exam questions are written and which type of questions it may contain, for example are they essay questions or multi-choice questions.
- Answers – The way past questions are worded stronger points to how you should answer questions on your exam paper, for example detailed questions require more detailed answers. Also, look at the points awarded per question, the more points the longer and more detailed the answer will have to be.
- Time – Although of course they may not be the exact questions you will have on your exam paper, looking through the points and answering the questions within the given time will effectively help you to manage your exam time. Always try to complete the entire exam paper. It is important to answer all of the questions in order to obtain a pass, as correct answers on some but not all questions may still result in a fail.
The Perfect Process
Following three easy stages will ensure that your revision will go well.
- Plan – Try to make a plan so that you can manage your time effectively, otherwise you may focus on one question too much and ignore other vital questions. A timetable is often the best way to ensure this doesn’t happen, although always remember to allot time when revising, take regular breaks; otherwise your revision can become overwhelming.
- Focus – Having looked at some past exam papers you will know which areas to focus on. Don’t spend weeks planning and revising a 2 point question, that time could be spent revising a 10 point question.
- Notes – Rewriting notes, practice writing exam questions are a great way for your mind to absorb information and to test which information you need to focus on. Also, clear notes can be helpful to quickly look over a few days before the exam.
Mind Maps
While practice writing exam paper questions and rewriting previous notes can be helpful, mind maps are also a brilliant way to revise. The colour, drawings and notes on key topics in mind maps make it easy to absorb information. The visual images of mind maps are very effective and the mind is often better able to recall information when colour and images are associated together.
Review
A few days before the exam review your mind maps and the clear notes you have made, ask a friend or family member to test you. If there is any information you cannot recall, this will help you to understand which particular areas you need to further revise.
Following these revising techniques will help to reduce any anxiety that you may have and it will guarantee a great result on that exam paper.
