Being reminded of exams is like getting a message from your dentist that you are due an appointment.
As we careen into the end of the year and exam season, I am sending out good vibes to all students and staff who are sprinting to the finish line.
This includes those of you who may not necessarily have exams but are preparing your final assessments for the year.
If you feel your productivity/ preparation skills could use some tuning, feel free to check out our ‘Preparing for Exams – The Series‘ posts.
It is a collection of posts, accumulated over the last few years that deal with common exam preparation strategies and concepts.
We look at study tips, managing anxiety, study/writing traps and the dreaded ‘dealing with failure’.
Can’t be arsed clicking through? I don’t blame you. I usually put that kind of thing in my ‘do later’ category.
So I got AI to read the posts for you and extract some top tips.
Think about how you might incorporate some of these into your study sessions.
Start Early and Plan Ahead 🗓️
- Give yourself time to study and organize your sessions into manageable chunks. Aim to cover the material progressively rather than cramming at the last minute.
Limit Passive Reading, Focus on Active Recall 🔄
- Instead of re-reading notes multiple times, progress to summarizing them, organizing into flashcards, and testing yourself. Active recall strengthens memory retention more than passive reading.
Utilize Old Exam Questions 📝
- Practice answering old exam questions without looking at notes. This helps you simulate the actual exam environment and builds confidence in recalling information on the spot.
Work in 90-Minute Cycles with Deep Rest ⏳🧘♂️
- Alternate between 90-minute study sessions and 10-20 minutes of deep rest (meditation or progressive muscle relaxation). This rhythm improves focus and helps integrate learning.
Use the Pomodoro Technique for Focus 🍅
- Break work into shorter, focused sessions (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by brief breaks. This helps maintain concentration and avoid burnout.
6. Break Up Screen Time with Outdoor Breaks 🌳👀
- Give your eyes and brain a break from intense screen focus by spending time outdoors. Take a few minutes to focus on a wide gaze, such as a distant landscape, to refresh your mind.
Connect Study Material to Personal Relevance 🔗
- Try to relate the material to your own experiences or interests. Personal relevance enhances memory and makes the material more engaging and meaningful.
Manage Exam Anxiety with Relaxation Techniques 😌
- Practice relaxation methods like deep breathing, mindfulness, and muscle relaxation to reduce anxiety before and during the exam.
Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule 🛌💤
- Learning continues during sleep as the brain consolidates information. Maintain a regular sleep schedule to optimize cognitive function and memory consolidation.
Be OK with Putting Non-Essential Tasks Aside 📥
- Accept that you may need to put other activities on hold to focus on your studies. These things will still be there when the exams are over, so give yourself permission to focus entirely on your preparation.
Accept Negative Self-Talk 🤔❌
- Understand that negative self-talk is common when working hard. Acknowledge it, but remind yourself it isn’t helpful right now. Instead, focus on the material and what you can control.
Scale Down Non-Study Activities 🤸♂️
- Don’t cut out important activities like exercise completely; just scale them down. For example, if you don’t have time for a full workout, do a quick, energizing activity like 30 star jumps instead of a 5km run.
Bonus Tip: Leverage Huberman’s Neuroplasticity Protocol 🧠⚡
- Huberman’s protocols emphasize the importance of focused learning periods followed by rest, optimizing neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change) and improving retention. Consider including some of his methods into your study routine for enhanced cognitive performance.
The end of the academic year is typically pretty intense. Challenge and opportunity all wrapped up into one.
Your job is to do your best. Use this time to develop the skills and mindsets that will prepare you for life beyond uni.
But also remember that it is merely just one step on a much bigger journey, so bring patience and self-compassion to the process.
