Whether it is the final exam of secondary school, an interim test or an exam of a further education, you always prefer to pass that exam immediately. It is a waste of your time to study hard first, fail and then have to start over. Moreover, the subject matter does not linger long after the exam. Fortunately, studying is something you can learn. With these tips you increase the chance of success in one go.
You must start on time to pass your exam
You may think you still have plenty of time to learn for the exam. Then remember that that time is up before you realize it. Start studying now, so you can not only take sufficient rest in between, but also repeat the material regularly. Stomping for hours on end is not the best way to learn. This way your brain does not have time to process the material. It is better to take a break after an hour so that you can regain your concentration. A night’s sleep is a great way to remember things better. Your brain processes what you have learned during the day at night. By repeating the fabric the next day, it will hang even better.
Make a schedule
The material for an exam often appears to be a confusingly large amount. To succeed, you really need to know all of that. However, remember that if all goes well you have seen everything before. Before you start studying for real, read the table of contents of the material to be studied and make a plan for yourself. Try to make these using the SMART method:
- S.specific: write down what you are going to do on which day. So write down subjects, chapter numbers to study, page numbers, and topics.
- M.edible: determine in advance what you need to know at the end of each day and how you will test it. You can do this, for example, by questioning yourself or by asking someone else to test you.
- aacceptable: this part of the SMART method is less applicable for a study schedule. Acceptable stands for whether there is support for the plan. This means that you must agree to carry out the parts of your schedule.
- R.ealistic: make your planning such that it is feasible. If you know in advance that you have little time on a certain day, plan less. Also keep space open to be able to catch up on work if a previous day was disappointing. For example, you can become ill or some of the material takes more time than you expected.
- T.Time-bound: Set a start date and an end date. The start date will likely be today or tomorrow and the end date will be the day before the exam, or slightly earlier. Also work with short-term goals: determine by what date you need to know which chapter in full.
Use your imagination
Learning material is better remembered if you can imagine it. Bare text does not live. Try to make up a story or link the facts to things you already knew. Also try to understand everything you learn as much as possible. Things you understand stick better.
Questioning
By reading the same text over and over again, you will eventually remember a great deal. However, it is more efficient to be actively involved with the substance. Ask yourself questions about the subject matter and then try to answer those questions. Make a summary of the material and try to use your own words as much as possible. What you should definitely do is practice by taking old exams. This works especially well if you also have the answers to the questions, so that you can check (afterwards!) Whether you have understood. If you need a little more outside help, ask your parents or a classmate to question you. Try to explain the subject matter to this person in your own words and have him or her ask questions.
Get enough sleep
Studying overnight may sound like a method to learn a lot, because then you put a lot of time into it. In reality, you better get enough sleep. When you go to sleep after studying, your brain processes the material and you will remember more about it than if you were still studying just before the exam. In addition, sufficient sleep ensures that you can concentrate better.
Concentration
You achieve good concentration not only by getting enough sleep, but also by ensuring that you have as little distraction as possible. Before studying, tidy up your desk, turn off your phone and put it out of sight. Opinions are divided as to whether music while studying is bad for your performance or not. It seems to be the case that if you choose to put music on, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Put on music without lyrics or with lyrics in a language you don’t understand. This prevents distraction because you start listening to the text.
- Make sure you can’t reach the radio. The tendency to change stations or songs over and over again creates too much distraction.
- If you play music on your computer or phone, make a playlist in advance of songs that you know from experience you can study well.
- Don’t turn up the music too loud. It is intended as background music, your own thoughts already provide the foreground noise.
Nutrition
Your brain needs a lot of energy. Therefore, start the day with a good breakfast. Research has shown that people who eat breakfast score better on tests than people who don’t. The difference is not great, but it can be exactly the difference between a pass or a fail.
Because your brain consists of 60% fat, it can use fatty foods perfectly. Don’t grab the chips right now. Your brain will be happier with the healthier varieties, such as fatty fish (herring, mackerel, sardines, salmon) and nuts. In addition, provide sufficient moisture. Preferably in the form of water or another sugar-free drink. Sugar causes fluctuations in your blood sugar, which is not beneficial for your ability to concentrate.
Sports and leisure
Exercise makes your heart pump blood through your body faster. This gives your brain more blood and therefore more oxygen. This allows you to concentrate better. So if you have a little dip after a while studying, you shouldn’t hang on the couch in front of the TV, but put on your running shoes and go for a run.
Succeed: you can do it!
Studying the right way for your exam is important, but just as important is the right attitude. Tell yourself you can. If you’re insecure and you’re going to tell yourself that the exam is going to be a failure, the more likely it will be. Try to be realistic: have you taken exams before? And have you succeeded? If you didn’t pass then, did you try harder now? If the answer to that last question ?? yes ?? now it will certainly work!