As the second week of mocks have begun, I see so many grade 12s walking around campus with exhausted faces. People often assume procrastination will stop during exam season, but we all know that’s not true. Even when ‘important things’ like exams begin, we often find ourselves pushing revision to the night before. Although the best de-stresser right now would be for the mocks to be over, here are a few things I think might help you!
1. Always try your best.
Even when you feel that you have not revised enough, not finished memorising a sheet or just felt totally unprepared for the test in general, it’s better to give it your all than to just give up, especially if it’s before the test even started.
For example, if it’s already 11pm the night before and you haven’t done any revision for the test the next day, but you have even an hour before, use it to the best of your abilities! So many people say that a couple hours of looking over notes won’t make a difference, but at least you put in something for the exam. Something is always better than nothing.
Likewise, even if you feel like you’ve completely messed up during the exam, don’t forget to give everything else your best shot. Who knows, that little extra bit of effort could be the difference between an entire grade boundary.
2. Get good sleep.
Researchers from Ghent and KU Leuven Universities in Belgium surveyed 621 first-year university students about their sleep habits during exam periods. The researchers then compared the survey results with how the students did on their exams. What did they find?
“All else equal, students who generally got a good night’s sleep performed better on exams,” study co-author Dr. Stijn Baert, a researcher at Ghent University, said in a written statement.
Beside the science though, there’s got to be a reason why sleep is strongly advised by everyone. Sure, do some last minute revision before the exam if you have time in the morning, but just NOT the night before. Make sure to get at least a solid 6~7 hours unless you want to forget everything you studied hard for–even the knowledge you already have.
3. Do something that makes you happy.
Personally, I love coming back home, taking a hot shower, dimming the lamp, lighting scented candles, blasting the AC, then jumping into bed with a super fluffy blanket. I can’t advise you to do the same because everyone is different, but just think about things that make you feel cozy, happy, and calm. Chocolates? A bath? Your favourite tv-show?
Don’t just come back home upset and stressed out – instead, maybe try to find something that can help you forget everything that’s on your mind and recharge for the next exam.
Good luck and take it easy :)
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