What are two simple actions a student can take to help them think clearly and perform their best on an exam?

Exams – they’re pretty tough, aren’t they?

Luckily, there are ways to deal with the stresses and get the marks you want.

Here are our 8 simple tips for exam success…

1. Make the most of your study time

Don’t just panic, bury your head in a heap of books and hope for the best. Get organised.

Make a schedule and work out how much time you need for each subject.

Study a little each day and give your brain a break every 45 minutes. Avoid cramming the night before – it’s not the way to guarantee a good mark.

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2. Don’t just study solo 

Why not form a study group with friends? It’ll provide you with variety and moral support, plus it’s motivating to have people around you who are working towards the same goals.

3. Deal with your stress

Exam stress is perfectly normal – in fact, a little bit of stress can be a positive motivator.

However, too much of it can negatively affect your performance.

So take regular breaks, exercise daily, and spend time relaxing with friends. If you begin to feel frustrated or overwhelmed, step away from the books for a while.

4. Ask for help

Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help – they’ll be glad to assist.

If you need clarification on a topic you’re struggling with, then ask them to talk you through it. Don’t panic in silence when there’s a support network around you.

5. Get plenty of sleep

Rest is good for your brain. Get a full eight hours sleep each night and avoid studying till the early hours.

Sleep is vital to exam success.

6. Prep the night before

Pack everything you need into a bag the night before – this way you can avoid a last minute rush the next day.

Essential items might include pens, pencils, a calculator and water.

7. Make the most of your morning

Get up early and eat breakfast – whether you feel like it or not.

Hunger will slow down your brain, plus who wants a rumbling tummy in the exam room?

Also, make sure to wear comfortable clothes with layers you can add or remove – you don’t know how warm or cold the exam room will be.

8. When you’re in the exam room… take your time

When waiting outside the exam room, avoid the temptation to discuss what you’ve studied with your friends. You’ll probably all have studied slightly different things so don’t panic each other!

Just sit quietly outside the room, breathe deeply and avoid looking at your notes. Once inside, read the exam instructions very carefully. Allocate time for each question and keep an eye on the clock.

If you don’t know the answer to a question, skip it and return to it later. Never leave an exam early, use your time given to fully complete and revise your answers. And remember – you can only do your best.

Good luck!

Need more exam tips? Find out why it’s useful to know your learning style. Or view our 13 study tips for success infographic.

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Exam Preparation: Ten Study Tips main image

Preparing for exams? Give yourself the best chance with these top ten study tips, and try not to let the stress get to you! Remember: you've got this. 

Give yourself enough time to study

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Don't leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute cramming, it's widely accepted that (for most of us) this is not the best way to approach an exam. To help sort out your time management, set up a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with. 

Organize your study space

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Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight?

Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, this may mean almost complete silence, for others, background music helps. Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

Use flow charts and diagrams

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Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. At the start of a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic - and then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Getting your ideas down in this brief format can then help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.

Practice on old exams

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One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and - if you time yourself - can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section. 

Explain your answers to others

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Parents and little brothers and sisters don't have to be annoying around exam time. Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.

Organize study groups with friends

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Get together with friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.

Take regular breaks

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While you may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counterproductive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day. Likewise, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.

Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or, if you're more productive at nighttime, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening.

Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks. Remember Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain.

Snack on brain food

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You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don't have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus, so keep away from junk food. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries. The same applies on exam day - eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but your energy levels will crash an hour later.

Plan your exam day

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Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam - don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize you don't know the way, or what you're supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time. If possible, do a test run of the trip. If not, write down clear directions.

Work out how long it will take to get there - then add on some extra time. You really don't want to arrive having had to run halfway or feeling frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates, as long as you know they're likely to be punctual.

Drink plenty of water

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As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.

Good luck!

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This article was originally published in February 2008 and was updated in May 2017.

This article was originally published in November 2012 . It was last updated in September 2022

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