It is coming up to that time of year again when important exams will be written. If you are in matric and you’ve neglected to study… eish! But this might still be useful for you.
Everybody else… PLEASE do not leave studying until the last minute.
Cramming is definitely not the best way to try and get good results! Give yourself enough time to study.
Start with tidying up the area where you study. It’s incredibly hard to concentrate if there’s mess around you. Also, make sure you are comfortable, have enough space and that you have good light – especially if you are going to be working at night.
Make a list of how many exams you have and when you have to write them. Then make a timetable so you can see how much time you have to study for each exam.
And people… do not waste lots of time making awesome timetables just so you don’t have to start studying. This is called PROCRASTINATION! It will get you nowhere.
Remember to schedule in breaks as well. After studying for 45-50 minutes you should enjoy a 10 minute break. Take some of those breaks in the sunshine too – Vitamin D is very good for your brain.
Use flow charts and diagrams to help you study. It has been proved over and over that visual aids really do work. Draw pictures, doodle.
Make flash cards and keep them handy. Get your parental agents to help you. Explaining things to other people is a great way to get everything organised in your head and help you to remember.
Consider organising study groups with friends. It’s good to bounce questions off other people. But don’t get side-tracked chatting and forget to study!
Try and avoid junk food when you are studying. Fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries have been proven to aid concentration and memory. Snack on raw veggies and fruit rather than sweets and chips.
Have a good healthy meal before you go and write your exam too.
Drink plenty of water – your brain works best when it is well hydrated.
Get enough sleep! If you have been cramming all night and are tired when you go to write your exam… you won’t remember as much as you should.
Good luck everybody!
Sibo
xxxx