How to prepare for exams with confidence: Our five-step guide

Preparing to take on exams and assessments this summer? We’ve got a handful of essential tips to help you approach exam preparation and revision.

As exam and assessment season draws closer, planning your studies and organising your revision can feel like a momentous task. How do you effectively revise everything you’ve covered since the start of your course? Where should you even begin?

We’ve got five straightforward steps to help you get started.

1. Get to know your learning style

It can be tempting to grab a textbook and dive right in, but it’s worth taking a moment to think about how you learn. What lessons or sessions have been most memorable for you, and how can you replicate them in your revision?

• Visual learners work best with images or drawings that include descriptions.

Try using: diagrams and posters, colour-coded resources and mind maps.

• Auditory learners process spoken information better than written language.

Try using: discussions, reading aloud (and recording so you can listen back), listening to relevant podcasts or watching educational videos/programmes, listening to a playlist while you study.

• Kinesthetic learners benefit from hands-on experience

Try using: practical models or tools, video explanations, past questions and past papers, physical learning tools such as flashcards. 

• Verbal learnersprogress best when they can talk about things.

Try: working with others to discuss topics, reading revision notes aloud, rewriting things in your own words.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start. Don’t seek to categorise yourself too tightly as there’s plenty of overlap between learning styles, but think about what you know works well for you.

2. Think about places and people

Some people study best in a quiet library, while others prefer a more engaging group atmosphere as they work their way through their list of topics. Think carefully about what creates the most productive learning environment for you. Perhaps it’s a combination of both.

If you have a study space within your home, make it as calm and organised as you can to avoid distractions. If that isn’t possible, take a walk around your campus and get to know the various study areas that are available. Your phone can be the ultimate resource and the ultimate distraction, so put it in another room or in your bag while you’re studying so that you’re not tempted to get caught up in messaging and scrolling.

You may decide to set up a study group with classmates or friends. This can be as simple as following the same study schedule so that you can take breaks at the same time or planning in group sessions to discuss meatier topics for in-depth understanding.

A study group is also a great way to check in on each other. It goes without saying that exams are stressful, so don’t forget to get in touch with the Support and wellbeing team at your campus if you need help – it’s exactly what they’re there for. If you do find your stress levels rising this term, you could also take a look at our blog on 5 effective ways to manage stress during exam season.

As you find your study sweet spot, it may also be a good time to check that you have the appropriate access arrangements in place for your exams if you need them such as extra time, assistive technology and scheduled breaks. This is also managed by the college’s Support and wellbeing teams.

3. Audit your knowledge

It’s really tempting to revise what you already know, but now is the time to think about what you’re less confident about. If you’ve never audited your own knowledge before, here’s one approach:

1. Go to your exam board’s website and print out the exam specification, which will list everything you‘ll be tested on.
2. Go through each topic and use a traffic light system to highlight: topics that you feel confident in (green), topics that you get but might struggle with in an exam (orange) and topics that you don’t really get (red). 
3. Prioritise the reds. Your revision should start with your weakest areas. It can feel uncomfortable to start with something you’re not sure about, but take your time and stick at it. By tackling these tricky areas, you can give yourself the best chance of increasing your marks.

As you continue studying, you may find that revision shines a light on other things that you haven’t fully grasped. To gain a better understanding of things, try finding a new source of information or a fresh explanation, or ask a teacher or a classmate to go over it with you.

4.  Embrace the power of the past paper

Past papers are more than just a dress rehearsal to help you answer questions on exam topics. Essentially, they show us how questions might be worded or structured, and also where the marks lie. 

Most past papers come with mark schemes, and although they’re not the most exciting things to read, they’re the academic equivalent of a cheat code as they give you valuable inside knowledge.

By getting into the mindset of the examiner and finding out what they’re looking for, you’ll have a better chance of hitting those marks and levelling up.

5. Plan your time, breaks and rewards

As you plan out your revision time (which you absolutely should do) be realistic about what you can achieve in each study session. This will help you set reachable goals as you put together a manageable and effective timetable to get you to your exams. Finding the right revision schedule can involve a little trial and error, so be flexible and don’t be afraid to move things around or take a new approach if needed. Don’t forget to reward yourself for reaching your goals and plan for some treats as you go.

Even the most capable footballer wouldn’t play a football match without a half-time break. Your brain needs breaks so it can absorb the things you’ve been working on. Rest is essential, productive and it doesn’t need to be hard won. Schedule regular breaks which enable you to move your body (remember that regular physical movement supports mental health and well-being), get a change of scene and some fresh air. It’ll help you reset and make your study sessions more effective.

As with many things in life, it’s easy to get caught up on the end product rather than analysing the process. When it comes to exams, getting to grips with your own revision process can be the key to success.

Finally, here are a few tips and reminders for exam day:

• Give yourself plenty of time to get prepared – eat a good breakfast, pack your bag with your equipment and leave early.
• Factor in a few minutes before the exam to get calm. Sit quietly and breathe or complete a breathing exercise – it really does work, science says so!
• Read the instructions and questions fully (always check that there isn’t one more question lurking on the back page).
• Plan out your time and think about how long you want to spend on each question. If you’re really stuck on one particular question, come back to it at the end. If you’re doing essay questions, make an essay plan. 
• Leave it in the room. When the exam is done, it’s done. Try not to spend too much time going over it or comparing answers with friends. Keep a clear head as you approach the next one.
• Reward yourself with something you enjoy. You’ve done your best, and you should be proud of yourself for getting here!

Whether you’re a student at Capital City College (CCC) or studying somewhere else, we wish all students the very best this exam season!

Share!