June 2013
Tips and tricks for your exams
By Vikram Ajit Rajan Thirupathirajan 10S
Finally , the time has come when those chairs and tables once again fill the sports hall , the school looks slightly empty and quiet has come around . Yes , exams have arrived . But although setting aside at least a month to revise your topics is vital , it all depends on how you perform inside the exam room on the day .
By now , all the students on study leave , Years 11 , 12 and 13 , should have revised all their topics thoroughly for all their exams . You year 10s just had your last set of half term holidays and it ’ s useful for you
to know how to use that time wisely . The first thing to do is plan out your revision carefully . A timetable is useful as it helps you to stay on schedule and cover your topics properly . Remember to always include breaks so that you don ’ t end up stressed
4 and tired . Next , the revision begins . You should have already revised all your topics and made notes on them , so you can now start the specific revision techniques . These techniques are ones that work best for each specific subject . For example , doing various maths problems is best when revising in maths while writing key points on post-it notes can be better for other subjects like science . You should also use the method that is best for you . Once you have done that , try doing some past papers and examination style questions . These give you an idea of what is likely to appear in your exam .
Now after your holidays , all of you have just a few days before an exam . During this time , you should continue to practice more of the examination style questions and go over your revision notes about once or twice every evening . Try to keep fit and healthy as much as possible to reduce the risk of health problems during the day of the exam . On the night before , you could try to revise a little . What is most important though , is to get a good night ’ s sleep so go to bed early so your brain is working well the next day .
On the actual day , two things can be done . If your exam is in the morning , try to do any last minute revising during your breakfast . However try not to think about it when at school before the exam because that may get you tense . If your exam is in the afternoon , you could look through your notes during lunch-time but
stop revising at least 15 minutes before the exam to get your brain relaxed . Then enter the exam room with a positive attitude and give it your best !