As we know anyone who fails to plan, plans to fails and that why we must Read and prepare for examsahead of time

Exam Preparation: Ten Study Tips

Preparing for exams? Give yourself the best chance with these top ten study tips, and try not to let the stress get to you! Remember: you've got this.

Give yourself enough time to study

Don't leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute cramming, it's widely accepted that (for most of us) this is not the best way to approach an exam. To help sort out your time management, set up a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.

Organize your study space

Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight? Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, this may mean almost complete silence, for others, background music helps. Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

Use flow charts and diagrams

Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. At the start of a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic - and then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Getting your ideas down in this brief format can then help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.

One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and - if you time yourself - can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section.

Explain your answers to others

Parents and little brothers and sisters don't have to be annoying around exam time. Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.

Organize study groups with friends

Get together with friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.

Take regular breaks

While you may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counterproductive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day. Likewise, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps. Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or, if you're more productive at nighttime, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening. Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks. Remember Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain.

Snack on brain food

You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don't have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus, so keep away from junk food. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries. The same applies on exam day - eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but your energy levels will crash an hour later.

Plan your exam day

Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam - don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize you don't know the way, or what you're supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time. If possible, do a test run of the trip. If not, write down clear directions. Work out how long it will take to get there - then add on some extra time. You really don't want to arrive having had to run halfway or feeling frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates, as long as you know they're likely to be punctual.

Drink plenty of water

As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day. STILL MORE HELPFUL TIPS

1. Find out about the exam Know your enemy - find out as much as you can about the exam. Questions to ask include: How much is the exam worth to your overall mark in the subject? What type of exam is it (for example, multiple choice, essay, open book, take-home)? Will there be a choice of questions or tasks? How much will each question or task be worth? 2. Ask for help

Don’t feel bad if you need to ask for help. People you can talk to about exams include: teachers lecturers family members friends and fellow students. If you’re feeling really stressed you might also find it helpful to speak to a counsellor. Our Student counselling page has tips for finding a counsellor. 3. Sort out your subject material Before starting to review a subject it helps to: check you have all of the handouts put your notes in order read over any course outline or subject guide write your own summaries of each textbook chapter or section of the subject guide. Getting all your gear together makes it easier to find what you need while you’re studying. 4. Review past exam papers Get your hands on any old exam papers from the subject and familiarise yourself with the structure and format. Places you can get past exam papers from include: your teacher or lecturer your school or university library the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (new window). When reviewing, practise answering the questions within the specified time limits. 5. Know where to go Make sure you know where and when the exam is happening. You don't want to miss your exam! Here's how to make sure that doesn't happen to you. Check your exam timetable for time and place details. Do a practise run to find out how long it takes to get there. Make a list of everything you need to take with you (for example, calculator, pencil, ruler). Do some study at same time as your exams (for example, if you have an early morning exam, practise getting up and studying earlier in the day). back to top of page 6. Don’t cram Staying up all night to cram will only stress you out. It's better to just review what you've already studied and get an early night. That way you'll be as refreshed as you can be on the day of your exam. If you want to do some preparation the night before, keep it simple: get all your materials together read over your notes test yourself on key concepts set your alarm. back to top of page 7. Keep your cool Fronting up to an exam can be nerve-wracking, but here are some tips for staying calm: Don’t talk too much to other students before the exam. Try to get there with time to spare so you don't arrive all rushed. Make sure you have a decent breakfast. Listen to some inspiring music on the way to the exam. Wear your lucky shirt or bring a lucky charm (if you have one). 8. Use your reading time

The way you use your reading time can really help you make the most of your exam time. Here are some ways to use your reading time well: Read all of the instructions very carefully. Scan the whole exam paper. Check how many pages there are. Check how much each question is worth (it helps to spend more time on heavier weighted questions). Plan which questions to answer first (consider starting with questions you're confident about). Plan how much time you'll spend on each answer or section. Start thinking about your answers. 9. Break the questions down A great tip for any exam is to break the questions down to make sure you really understand what you’re being asked. Look for the key parts of the question. These can give you clues on how to answer it. For example, for the question, "Explain the difference between study and revision", you could split this question into four parts: Explain - give reasons to show how or why something is the way it is. The difference - what are the distinguishing factors between study and revision? Study - what is study? Revision- what is revision? 10. Review your answers (if you can) If you finish the exam before the time is up it's a good idea to go back over everything, even answers you're confident you got right. Try to: review as many answers as you can start with the questions you're least confident about make sure you've answered every question make sure you've answered every part of every question (some questions might have multiple parts). Come up with your own strategies Remember - these tips are only some of the things that you can do to get the most out of your exams. There might be other things that work even better for you. Ask around - find out what your friends do for their exams - maybe some of their tricks will work for you too! Maybe your teachers have some good recommendations too. For more tips and advice about exams and studying, check out our Top ten study tips page and our Online study resources page.