For every time I finished an exam, I have always asked myself- ‘How can I write an examination without feeling I have written one’. The uneasiness and the pressure is a feeling I don’t like to relive. However, the truth remains that I cannot eliminate the anxiety that follows an examination completely.
Exam preparation experts from Assignment Geek say studying for exams can be challenging; at some point, you feel that you have completed all the preparations. On the other hand, your flaws are revealed to you. Unsurprisingly, 70% of exam writers have unexplained mood swings. Some candidates internalize unhealthy eating habits and poor daily routines.
Here is a gist- Managing the overall season of exams and the tense atmosphere in an examination hall is basically what excellence in an examination is. Therefore, if you love how the letter ‘A’ looks on any of your course results, then you need to take steps the ‘A- students’ take.
Eight (8) Verified Ways to Get Good Marks in Exam
Below are some tips that will put you through what you need for good marks in your exam. However, I recommend that you understand yourself and know which of these work for you.
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Get Rid of Distraction
The word distraction is objective. It may be a rough workplace, the smell of pancakes in the kitchen, dull light e.t.c. The first part is to identify what stands as a distraction to you.
You may be unaware, but you may have always found yourself uneasy while reading in a clumsy and rough table. Is your chair comfortable? Do you get sleepy by just seeing your bed? Are computer games out of sight? Do you need to keep your phone totally out of sight? Or just put in silence or airplane mode?
All these questions if ‘faithfully’ answered can help you increase your level of concentration. You need to know that distraction no matter how little can interrupt the frequency at which you are assimilating.
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Know your catalyst
Catalysts could help you speed up your assimilating or retentive capacity. This should never be confused with distractions.
I have a couple of friends that need to chew on a couple of chocolate bars before reading. No, it is not addiction. They just noticed they could not assimilate well without chocolates.
In the same vein, some things unknowingly help you assimilate better. You may notice you need background music while reading. Also, you may observe that you study better in a very rough workspace or a clean one. Do you need a note pad and pen or you prefer to type?
Know which one works well with you.
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Practice Old Questions
Reading is undoubtedly the best way to pass exams with good marks; however, how you read such books matters.
Practicing old questions is one way to make your reading productive. This will not only test your knowledge, but it acquaints you with the way questions are asked or should are answered. Not knowing how a question is asked or answered in an exam may give your brain a momentary shock or memory lapse.
A conscious review of old questions will also make you time conscious. Adherence to time is always a serious issue for students who think they have all the time in the world to solve or answer a question. Needless to say, time usage is part of the examination itself.
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Use Relatable Codes
Your reading is your turf. Customizing you reading in a way you will understand is a skill you and every examination candidate should adopt.
Where the need is, create formulas that will aid you in remembering what you read. Make flowcharts and visual aids that can trigger your brain for easy recollection of information.
These codes will help you compress all the required information and make it easily accessible.
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Organize Study groups
Organize or join a study group to help you study well. A study group can help you draw study plans, look out for you when anything makes your reading stumble, ask questions and help solve difficult ones.
As crucial as the study group is, you need to be more careful in selecting your reading group. You must choose or join study partners who are of like mind, not selfish and serious with their studies.
Without much saying, having a study group is not for everyone. Few people have a sinking academic performance right from the moment they joined a study group.
This may not be as a result of selfishness or wickedness on the path of any group member. Members of study groups are unknowingly saddled with responsibilities that in the extended run benefits everyone. Any deficiency in such obligations may also negatively affect everyone.
Therefore, you may only join a study group if you have noticed how beneficial it can be to you.
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Take Breaks
Due to pressure and tense examination atmosphere, students sometimes are reminded even to take their baths. Examination atmospheres are so thick that you can cut it with a knife. However, I need to remind you that you’re not a robot.
The need to go back home with the best of grades is undoubtedly enough motivation to stay long hours in the study room. Taking a piss may look like you are wasting your time. Everyone at a point has experienced this.
However, the greatest gift you can afford at moments like this is to give yourself a very much needed break. Go out! Feel the sun for some minutes, Stretch your bones, take a shower and do whatever can make you relax your nerves.
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Eat well
Telling you how much calories the brain uses up during ‘its hard work’ may be a waste of time, right? Folks nowadays are not concerned about such information.
Most young people pick up unhealthy eating habits during preparation for the examination. Young examination candidates are fooled by the ‘season’ and somehow believes going to the kitchen or restaurant to make/eat healthy food is a waste of precious ‘examination preparation time’.
Some even recount how chain smokers and people with unhealthy habits come out top of the class. Regardless of whatever you believe, if you want your health not to depreciate before, during or after exams, you should consider eating well.
The stress you’re going through while reading can be demanding on its own. Coupling such stress with dangerous eating can be detrimental to your health. The fever sensation in an examination hall is not what you would want to experience.
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Plan for the Exam
Do not wait for the examination day before you make the necessary preparations.
Read the examination rules or requirements for yourself to be sure. Arrange and get all examination materials- pen, pencil, calculator, dissecting sets, poster colors and so on ready.
If you’re not sure of the examination venue, try getting there a day before. Note the time it took you to get there and give more time allowance during the exam day. You should get settled early in the hall than for you to run around not knowing where your sit is.