Whether you’re studying for NCEA Level 3 Statistics, cramming for your IB English exam or revising for AS Chemistry, preparing for your final exams can be daunting. But they don’t have to be. From creating a study routine to revising tips, we’ve rounded up the top 5 tips to help you tackle exam preparation and nail your Year 13 finals.
- Use All Resources
When preparing for your final exams, it’s instrumental to know who your support network is and to use them wisely. Whether it’s your home tutor, school teacher, parents or friends, don’t be afraid to ask for help and reach out. It’s important to ask your tutor questions, bounce ideas back and forth with them and prepare answer responses and essay plans to get their feedback on. Your subject syllabus will be your best friend, learn it well and apply this terminology to your exam responses and notes.
- Write And Repeat – Revise, Revise, Revise
Writing your notes down can be instrumental to help you retain the important concepts you’ve been learning all year round. Organise your study notes, subject content and syllabus using colours and dividers. Revise previous exam questions to help you understand the exam layout, structure and language used in the exam. Hot tip: writing out content three times can help you remember it better!
- Plan Your Study Time – Establishing A Routine
Planning your study time is crucial to ensure you feel comfortable and to help you enter the exam period with a clear mind. Prioritise each subject and create a schedule based on your exam timetable. Try to work out a study routine that suits you and stick to it. Hot tip: remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint!
- Rest Up – Take Regular Breaks
Most of us require regular breaks to survive exams! Try to get a good night’s sleep leading up to your exams. Consider aiming for study blocks of an hour or less and don’t forget to stay hydrated and fueled in the lead up to your exams. Remember, it’s not all work and no play, you need to establish a balanced lifestyle to boost your productivity.
- Test Yourself – Know Your Strengths And Weaknesses
It’s important to understand what your exam marker wants. Learn the curriculum and use the resources available to you to be precise with what areas you are studying for. Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses and what areas you need to work on in the lead up to your exam. Practice questions and prepare responses for core exam areas. Ask your tutor to mark your response and build your learning and skills from there.
Our tutors in Auckland will work with the school curriculum and plan for upcoming tests, so that students are well prepared leading up to their exams. Get in touch at www.tutoringforexcellence.co.nz
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