It’s the time of year once more. The ‘O’ Levels are approaching, and students could be feeling a little anxious as the exams approach.
Despite spending the entire year buried in their books, ‘O’ Level students often feel overwhelmed, burnt out, and drained by September. This anxiety can cause students to forget what they’ve learned, and I’ve even seen students fail in the weeks leading up to a big test as a teacher.
This does not have to be if students develop some easy behaviours to help them centre themselves and stay calm! For a clearer mind, try the following six tips just before the ‘O’ Level tests.
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Make the Most of Your Body Clock
Students who are not morning people can find it difficult to complete papers before lunchtime, and stumbling into the exam hall half asleep can have a significant impact on results.
Make sure to start sleeping and waking up at normal hours so that your mind can wake up and you can perform at your best when the papers begin!
Make a Revision Plan
You’ve heard it said that failing to prepare is planning to fail. Maintaining consistency and setting meaningful research targets is easier when you stick to a well-planned schedule. It also means you’ll have more fun taking breaks!
Instead of sticking to one topic for an extended period, study each subject in rotation for better retention.
Take Breaks and Reward Yourself
If you break down your goals into tiny, manageable steps and then reward yourself with small treats, revising can be fun!
Why not treat yourself to a cup of bubble tea, a quick 30-minute nap, or a quick swipe through your Instagram feed? You’ll be less likely to flame out or get fatigued when revising this way.
Stick to Tried-and-Tested methods.
Avoid doing new stuff as the exam approaches to avoid disrupting your routine and trust. New foods can disturb your stomach; a new sleep routine can make you tired, and practising tough new questions a day or two before the exam can wreck your confidence!
Instead, concentrate on reviewing old methods and sticking to a schedule.
Before going to bed, go over your work.
Do you need to remember a sequence of steps, a formula, or a structure?
Before you go to bed, take a look at it. According to research, students’ retention improves when they study concepts right before going to bed, particularly if the knowledge is fresh.
Using Retrieval Techniques regularly.
Many students enjoy going through their notes again and again to rewrite. While this rehearsal process is beneficial for committing something to memory, it is also critical to ensure that stored facts can be accessed under exam conditions.
Use flashcards to put yourself to the test, or team up with a friend! It can be enjoyable to research with a mate, as you can quiz each other and assist each other in memorizing keywords and concepts.
Excellent Resources for GCE’ O’ Levels Success
Seb Academy has a lot of tools that you can use. Click on the links below for secondary students’ guides to mastering O-level chemistry as well as A-level chemistry.