#57 TRENDING IN Student Life 🔥

Conquer, Breathe, Succeed: Unlocking the Secrets of Exam Season

Student Life

December 15, 2024

Exams. A student's worst nightmare. For some, they are a straight path to success; for others, an insurmountable mountain.

Either way, exams are the universal currency of academia, demanding hours of preparation, sacrifice, and a level of focus that can make you feel like you're the star of Survivor. It's easy to get lost in the chaos, pages of notes scattered like fallen leaves, late-night cram sessions lit by the glow of your laptop, the constant soundtrack of your mind whispering. Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? If you have ever felt the weight of these questions pressing down, you're not alone. But here's the thing: surviving exam season is not about being perfect; it's about finding balance. It's about taking a step back, breathing in, and realising that this moment, no matter how overwhelming, doesn't define you. So, as you gear up for the next exam season, here are some tips to help you stay afloat and come out stronger on the other side with a mark you are proud of.

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1. Getting off Procrastination Station and Entering the Train of Academic Excellence.

"I'll do it tomorrow." "Eh, it is not that important." "I have to clean my room first." Does that sound like you? If so, don't panic; you're not alone. The Oxford Dictionary defines procrastination as 'the action of delaying or postponing something.' A comforting lie we tell ourselves: There is still time.

The truth is procrastination isn't just laziness or incompetence; it's the fear of failing, the fear of starting, and the insatiable fear of not meeting the expectations of yourself or others. Once we understand that, we can learn how to overcome this overwhelming fear.

One Day or Day One

The most challenging part of any task is the beginning; simply sitting at your desk and starting is the hardest part. Commit to studying for five minutes daily, and you'll already see an improvement. Once you start, you can keep building momentum, and eventually, you can study for as long as you need.

Death of the Doom Scroll

Doom scrolling is the epitome of procrastination. I was a slave to the TikTok algorithm, mindlessly scrolling my precious time away. Before you come at me, I'm not discouraging the use of TikTok; like all things, it's best in moderation.

TikTok is an amazing application. It just depends on how you use it. Is your For You page full of Skibbidi Toilet brain rot or academic tips and motivation? The best thing you can do to avoid the doom scroll is to tune your For You page; I recommend tuning it to study motivational videos. This will not only help you learn while doom scrolling; it will give you the motivation to "make something of yourself" and study.

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2. Tackling the Untackalable Syllabus

The exam syllabus can feel monstrous, but monsters are easier to conquer in pieces, Divide your content into manageable chunks, tackling one concept, one equation, one chapter at a time can help your journey to success feel a little less daunting.

To - Do, Doing, Done:

Visualisation is key; the To-Do, Doing, Done method is the holy grail of visualisation.

Image Credit: Jessica John from whimsical.com

Above is my own example of the To-Do Doing Done process; this helped my team and me to organise our tasks and give us a clear view of what needs to be done, all the while letting us celebrate every small victory. Divide your syllabus into these categories, and you'll always know what you need to do more.

Contract For Success:

The key to success is time management and routine; creating a non-negotiable schedule and sticking to it is the best thing you can do for your grades. Make sure to centre your planner around you, factor in rest times, extracurriculars, and hobbies, and select study periods for each subject.

Image Credit: Jessica John from notion.com

Above is an example of my study schedule created using Notion, which will aid you in creating your own.

3. The Study of Studying

Not every student fits into the cookie-cutter study methods our schools have taught us. "Write notes and review them" is what most of my teachers told me when I asked them what the best way to study was. If everyone were like that, we could all conform to the standardised way of learning. But yet again, reality hits us hard: no two students can study the same; this is both a curse and a blessing. Finding what method of studying best suits you is crucial for your success.

Pomodoro Technique:

The technique is among my favourites and helps students who can only focus briefly. I recommend using lifeat.io; it has helped me through my studying and has cute timers and templates.

How it works: Study in focused intervals (25 minutes) followed by a 5-minute break. After four intervals, take a longer break (30 minutes).

How to use: Set a timer, pick a task, and work on it with complete focus during the set time. Avoid distractions until the timer rings.

Blurting:

Blurting is an amazing method that shows you what you know.

How it works: Write down everything you know about a topic without referring to any notes, then check your knowledge against study materials.

How to use: After studying, grab a blank sheet and "blurt out" all the information you remember. Fill in the gaps with your notes afterwards.

Kinesthetic Learning:

Although I haven't personally used this technique, it's an Elle Woods special, and if Elle can become a lawyer using kinesthetic learning, you can ace those exams!

How it works: Learn by doing physical activities related to the content (e.g., building models, acting out processes, or writing by hand).

How to use: Incorporate movement, such as creating diagrams, teaching others using gestures, or using hands-on simulations.

Group Study:

Studying with friends or classmates is a great way to share notes and fill knowledge gaps; it is also a great way to strengthen bonds and get new perspectives on the content you're reviewing.

How it works: Collaborate with peers to discuss, explain, and solve problems together.

How to use: Join or form a group with shared goals. Assign topics for members to explain, discuss questions, and hold each other accountable.

Flashcards:

Flashcards are my absolute favourite way to study. They're so much fun to make and portable, so you can study any time. Applications I use are Gizmo and Revisly to make my flashcards, or you could always handwrite them.

How it works: Use cards with questions or terms on one side and answers or definitions on the other to test yourself.

How to use: Create cards for key terms or concepts. Test yourself regularly, focusing on cards you find difficult. Use digital apps or physical cards.

4. Prioritise Rest not Revision

Rest is necessary; regardless of whatever you have tomorrow, rest is vital. There is nothing more important than a good eight hours of sleep. And no, scrolling through TikTok at 2 a.m. doesn't count as rest. Set boundaries with your screen and study; let your mind wander into dreams, not distractions, and remember a rested student focuses better than a tired student.

Take It or Leave It?

The time has come, my favourite part of any article, where I give you my unsolicited advice.

Let's make this one short and sweet:

Mock exams are the holy grail of preparation. Complete them to the best of your abilities and within the set time frame.

Active recall: It doesn't matter if you have an exam or not; take five minutes of your day to go through your notes, write what you didn't understand, and write any important information you need to memorise. Spend another five minutes after each study session recalling the important information. Flashcards are the best way to review this. I recommend using applications such as Revisely and Gizmo.

My last advice is a cliché: ask for help from your teachers. It's their job to teach you; if you feel uncomfortable asking them, shoot them an email or talk after class. If your teacher's strength isn't helping students, I recommend getting a professional tutor, joining a student-led study group, asking other teachers who are better suited to help you, or even going online to find free tutors. Schoolhouse.World is a great site where I get help from qualified tutors for free.

I want you to remember, dear reader: everything I've told you can and will only work if you're willing to make sacrifices. Getting good grades does not happen overnight; it happens through hours of dedication, days of failure, and, most importantly, months of discipline.

"The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is of all things most shameful and vile." – Plato

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my unsolicited advice. So, are you going to take it or leave it?

Summary

So, as you prepare for your next exam, test, assignment, or whatever you have, remember my 4 key tips. Procrastination does you more harm than good; one can combat this by tuning their social media feed and creating a strict, non-negotiable schedule. (it's okay to be a little lax). Know what study method works for you; learning is only possible if you retain the information.

Whether you're an Elle Woods or a Pomodoro master, remember you're still human. Make sure to get some rest. We've already discussed this: late-night doom scrolling does not count as rest. It is crucial for your sanity to find a balance between your downtime and study; remember, moderation is key. Exams are a stressful time for everyone; taking things one step at a time keeps your mental health in check and guarantees a more productive and thorough study. If you have taken anything away from this article, just know that no matter how hard things get, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You got this!

Jessica John

Writer since Nov, 2024 · 1 published articles

Jessica is an enthusiastic and curious scholar, with a passion for astrophysics and creative writing. She has been engaging in the study of complex subjects like programming, philosophy, and poetic expression. She enjoys programming and has created projects such as a virtual assistant and a kinetic energy generator, combining her technical skills with a creative approach to problem-solving, she also has an affinity for using language with precision while exploring intellectually stirring themes. Outside of academics, Jessica also participates in leadership roles and enjoys opportunities that challenge her to grow intellectually and as a person.

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