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THIS week, we are going to look at a few study tips to help learners prepare for any school examination.
Adequate preparation is necessary to succeed in getting the desired and required marks.
Most learners, especially in higher levels of study, wait till the very last minute and end up “cramming” texts and formulae before the exam session, which makes them experience unnecessary pressure, strain and anxiety.
Know your exam timetable
This will help you schedule and plan your studies.
An exam session should never come to you as a surprise.
Mark your exam dates and write the time and subject on the calendar so that you are fully aware and reminded of this information constantly.
Some learners set a timeline on their planner, where they count down the dates; this is one way of keeping yourself on schedule with your study plan.
Give yourself enough time to study
After marking your exam timetable on the calendar, schedule your study plan for each subject proportionately.
That is, give more time to subjects that you are struggling with to adequately cover difficult topics.
Set a balanced timetable for your studies and make sure all subjects are adequately covered.
Ensure it is a realistic schedule, and do not put yourself under pressure to cram information in a short space of time.
Failure to heed this advice may see you lose the little you know due to mental block or exhaustion.
Being prepared for the exam will help you be more confident on the day of the test. Start your studies well in advance.
Study groups
Get together with friends or classmates and schedule study sessions. Make sure you have a timetable so that you are studying the same subject at the same time.
This may mean you will be part of more than one study group.
Having people who are studying the same subject will help when you are stuck on a certain topic.
Additionally, you will be able to engage in group discussions that will also help motivate you to study.
Make use of old exam papers
This is one of the best ways of practising for an exam. However, past papers are meant to help in preparation for the exam using real questions and should not be the “alpha and omega” of your studying.
That is to say, do not collect past exam papers and study them at the expense of the notes and textbooks which you have been given in class.
Exams are meant to test knowledge, understanding and application to help you with further studies and life skills; therefore, it is prudent for a learner to adequately learn principles, for it shall be required of them at a later stage.
Regular breaks
Studying for many hours at a time without taking a break is counterproductive. Do not take recreation time out of your day in an attempt to do marathon studying.
Studies have shown that for long-term information retention, regular breaks are important. A refreshed mind is more likely to understand and retain information than an exhausted one.
Balanced diet
A balanced and nutritious diet keeps the mind and body strong, and alert.
Stay away from junk food that does not add any nutritional value to your system.
Bad eating habits will cause you to quickly tire and can increase chances of stress and strain.
Sugar gives temporary energy, which is not healthy. Fruits, yoghurts and foods with carbohydrates and protein will ensure that your body has sufficient energy levels and your brain is well-fuelled.
Adequate sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential if you want your body to function properly and your brain to be as sharp as it can be.
When you are tired, your body is not able to process thoughts clearly.
This could make you second-guess an answer to a question or even cause you to draw big, scary blanks on certain questions. This can be a frustrating situation, especially if you knew the answer the night before, when you were up until the late hours of the morning studying. — Wires.
Learners can write short poems/stories or about special events at their schools and send to: prince.mushawevato@ zimpapers.co.zw
Online Reporter