As May is approaching many students are being filled with exam stress and panic. Whether it’s cramming the last minute history revision, or feeling unmotivated to do practice papers on study leave. You will see 3 top tips from students on how to revise, stay motivated and take care of yourself during this stressful and overwhelming time. 

 

1) Find what revision works well for you

Revision does not come easy to all of us and for some it can be very difficult to retain information, which is why revision is so crucial. However it is important to note that everyone is different and we all learn in so many different ways. For some flashcards and mind maps help retain short form information. It is a very simple but proactive form of revision that can also be used for testing and sticking around your room for daily reminders. For others recordings and videos work better. Hearing the information can sometimes retain easier for some students, especially with subjects such as english, history, drama and any languages. Year 12 student Esme Thompsett said that for her “writing down content, blurting and  flashcards” worked best for her, however another year 12 student Nathaniel Harsent said that “past papers were the most efficient” for him. This shows that not all methods work for everyone so make sure you trial and error and don’t be afraid to be creative with your techniques.
 

 

2) Be proactive

Revision also relies on you and your structure. When entering year 11 and study leave, creating an exam timetable that is proactive and attainable is key. Make sure that you factor in any extracurricular activities you do so that on those days you do not burn yourself out. Additionally make sure that you are aware of the subjects that need more focus than others and the subjects you find harder because it is very tempting to only revise what you are already good at. Additionally, Thompsett said that “going to support sessions” made all the difference and taking this proactive step to ask for help and use the extra time in school. Harsent said that he “focused on the difficult subjects such as history by making flashcards on quizlet and was able to go up three grades” this shows that putting in your own extra work and being able to prioritise harder subjects pays off in the end and will provide you with less stress and panic nearer the exams.

 

3) Stay social 

During the exam season, it can be difficult to take some time for yourself and take away some of the stress, worry and overall exhaustion students can have. Thompsett said that “factoring in free time can prevent burnout” and that is why it is so important. There are many ways you can do this without adding more stress to your day. For example, trying a new sport, going for a walk, having a movie night, going on a coffee date or anything that you enjoy doing away from your studies. This will help improve your mental health and is a key part of study leave that people forget. Another year 12 student Amelia Macey said that “staying social is just as important as studying and having study sessions with your friends is a great balance.” Additionally, another year 12 student Logan Krywoszej said that "free time is heavily important to stay healthy both physically and mentally, sometimes it can be nice to just do things you enjoy."

Overall, exam season is a worrying, full-on and stressful time for all but some areas are easier than others. The one piece of advice Nathaniel Harsent has is “to build in time to study and don’t just do it on a whim”; Esme Thompsett’s advice is to “revise well in advance and don’t leave it till the last minute; Amelia Macey’s advice is to “not just revise what your good at because that doesn’t need revising, make sure you focus on what is difficult too”; and Logan Krywoszej's advice is to "don't ignore what you may be needing mentally at the time, overwhelming yourself with revision won't help you revise. Don't underestimate how important looking after yourself is." No matter what exams you are taking just remember that you have got this and we believe in you!