For most students, it's a tricky situation being in an exam room with zero preparation and it will be so easy if you got ready beforehand. Below are tips students can apply for an easy study time and approach that can guarantee good results.

1Maximize your exam time

Don't leave it until the last minute, every minute to the last second is crucial and ultimately determines your final mark. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute cramming, it's widely accepted that this is not the best way to approach an exam.

2Familiarize yourself with the questions

There is always a big chance that some questions are repeated and even if that is not the case, the techniques used to set questions will help you know the kind of answers needed. 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.

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. 

3Be organized

The organization keeps your mind clear and at peace. Organization relaxes your mind and gives it a conducive environment to absorb as much as possible. Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Basic details like enough light, appropriateness of your desk and chair, and other distractions like television or computers should be kept away.

4Divide your study areas

Can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section. Naturally spending more time and energy on those challenging areas. Allocate different approaches to this study area like studying, discussions, consultation with teachers, etc. This will ensure that you are prepared for the type of exam and any kind of questions you will be sitting, whether multiple choice, short answer, etc. 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.

5Share ideas

Get together with friends for group discussions and brainstorming. You may have questions and better approaches to study that you can pass along and vice versa.

7Prepare beforehand

These are not strictly meant for exams itself, even all other things necessary for the success of the exams. 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 like stationery.

8Be attentive in class

Listen to what the teacher is saying. He or she might make very clear the section to emphasize on and any other tips that might come in handy during the paper. Understand what is being taught in class. A lot of students refuse to take down notes on what the teacher emphasizes and yet they ease the work during revision, especially before exams. Take down good notes. 

Follow your teacher in class, and jot down whatever is important in your notebook. Writing a notebook of your own is one of the best ways to study because you understand it best and know where everything is. Do not worry about how others can understand the material or how your handwriting is, only worry about understanding it yourself. Use your resources well like asking 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.

9Know how to study smart and not hard

What is the point of spending all your days couped up and not understanding anything? To achieve this, you must first know certain things, and remember the goal is to understand and not to cram. Learn to relate ideas across topics. This will make it easy to know the expectations in the paper.

10Start early enough

Set up a revision timetable up to days, weeks, or even months before the exam The amount of revision time needed will depend on how big the exam or test is. You should revise the main topics for a substantial time a day the week before the exam. You need to give yourself enough time to review everything that you have studied and make sure that you understand it.

11Take care of yourself

Your mind and body will be able to work better if you eat a healthy diet, and get plenty of sleep. Enough rest and the right source of energy keep your brain healthy and at its peak functioning. It is also a good idea to take regular exercise when studying, it might feel like wasting time but you need to take a break to re-energize.

A walk, or more vigorous exercise, will get your blood moving and ensure that you are better able to concentrate. It is also a good idea to take regular exercise when studying. Don't forget to hydrate regularly, and major in brain-boosting foods like nuts and green leafy vegetables.

12Start with the questions you understand

Apart from helping with time management because you will attend to them quickly, getting the questions that you know the answer to first will give you confidence and momentum to push through the rest of the exam. While you have been answering the easy questions, your subconscious brain has been thinking about the hard questions and trying to solve them. Small details like underlining any keywords in the questions that you are still working to figure out. This will help your brain to focus on the main point of the questions and hopefully help you recall the correct answer.

Takeaways

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.

The time you use to revise before the exam should not be the moment you try to understand and comprehend certain knowledge.

Your revision moment should rightfully be the moment of merely recalling what you have known.