Six revision tips for exam success

There's no doubt that exams are stressful. There's pressure from all sorts of different places; parents, teachers, friends, not to mention the pressure that we put on ourselves. We start to consider the 'what ifs?'  

'What if it all goes wrong?' 

'What if I don't do as well as I'd hoped?' 

And on top of that, there's revision. 

There can often feel like there's so much to do in a short space of time, and extra stress and pressure can lead to exam burnout. That's when we start to feel like we're exhausted by everything.  

But there are things that you can do to effectively manage any stress and make sure that you get the best out of yourself, both in the build-up and on exam day. 

Looking at the positive side of stress 

The first thing to understand is that stress isn't always a bad thing. Stress can be a really powerful motivator and it can help us be more productive. Everybody experiences anxiety and stress in a slightly different way, so looking to your friends to see how they're dealing with things isn't always the best idea.  

Understanding what causes you stress and how you normally respond to those things can help you realise when those responses are changing. For example, notice when something that normally makes you feel a little bit irritated, starts to make you absolutely furious. This can help you notice when stress is becoming worse, and you can take some steps to avoid burnout. 

Take time for self-care 

It's important to practice self-care, both during the revision and exam period. Your exams are important, but you're more than just a student. Take the time to think about what you enjoy and make sure you're making time for those things as well. Whether it's listening to music, spending time with friends or family, or getting some exercise, plan some down time into your revision. 

Think of it as an important part of your preparation and a way of making sure you're getting the best out of yourself. 

Go easy on yourself 

An important part of looking after ourselves is practising self-compassion. Try to imagine what you would say to a friend who's experiencing the same thing. Imagine the words you would use. Think about the tone of voice that you would use. 

Can you practice using those words and that tone on yourself? Try to imagine what it would be like to hear those words and then say them to yourself. Treat yourself with the same kindness that you would offer to someone else. 

Focus on your breathing 

Sometimes our worries can get the better of us and we can feel our mind starting to run away with unhelpful thoughts. Thoughts about failure and about the future. This is a perfectly normal thing for our minds to do, but a really useful way of letting go of some of those thoughts is to focus on our breath. 

Practice inhale slowly, then pausing and exhaling. As you're doing that, pay attention to what's happening in your body. Notice the movement of your chest and stomach. Try and notice each individual breath. Repeat this for ten breaths and notice how your breathing just naturally slows down a little bit.  

Even if some of those thoughts and worries are still there, moving your attention onto your body and away from those thoughts, might make them lose a little bit of their power. 

Take care of the basics 

By basics I mean get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat well, and move around. Whether that's going to the gym to smash weights for two hours or walking around for ten minutes every now and then, taking care of your physical health is a great way to stay on top of your stress. 

Do what works for you 

Some people like to revise for 30 minutes. Break for ten. Work for 30. Break for ten. Other people prefer to work longer between breaks. 

Some people use diagrams. Some people write notes. I used to like having the television on when I was revising because I liked the background noise, whereas other people prefer to revise in silence. The point is, find out what works for you.  

There is loads of advice out there about the best way to revise and prepare, but the best advice is to listen to yourself and do what works for you. Remember that stress and the anxiety that we feel around exams is also perfectly normal. The most important thing is to think about what exams really mean. Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that exams aren't important because they are, but they're not everything. 

Your exam results won't define you as a person. Your exam results don't tell people how creative or thoughtful or kind or funny or amazing you actually are. Control what you can. Make a plan that works for you. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Be kind to yourself and whatever will be, will be. Good luck.