Dear Parents and Students,

I hope you’re all well and not too exhausted in the lead up to exams. At this point in the year it must feel like you’ve been doing nothing else for the last six months! I know because that’s how I feel, and I’m not the one sitting the exams! Keep going … only five or six more weeks before you can breathe a sigh of relief! 

Students, this month and next are full-on, so remember to approach things in a sustainable way. By that I mean:

Self-care and downtime: It’s not all about studying, cramming and pushing yourselves. Self-care is important too, so make sure you prioritise sleep (at least 8 hours), downtime, water and plenty of healthy snacks and meals. When we sleep our brains do the filing, all that information you’ve been absorbing needs to be retrievable during the exams so make sure you’re not exhausted or drained. It’s harder for a sleep-deprived brain to focus and remember things.

Balance your time: Make sure your revision schedule is manageable. If you overdo it, you’ll become irritable and anxious, grumpy and tired. Better to plan small, manageable chunks (the Pomodoro technique recommends 25 minutes work before a 5 minute break and repeat x 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1BvrkPF2LE. After 4 sessions take a break for up to half an hour, set an alarm and properly relax - do a meditation, go for a walk, listen to music, etc. Avoid getting drawn onto your phone or liaising with stressed friends.

Revision techniques: Everyone revises differently but active recall and spaced repetition are more effective methods than just re-reading notes over and over again. Use flashcards or answer past papers. Colour code or draw things if it helps. Mind maps are brilliant, especially if you include some pictures. Better to understand than just to memorise, and understanding is really vital if you’re planning to do that subject at A-level.

Focus on weaknesses: When revising, dedicate more time to the topics you find difficult. Sounds obvious but it’s easy to keep looking at the things you already know. Looking at things we find hard, can make us feel uncomfortable and anxious but remember that it’s when we feel slightly out of our comfort zone that we’re most likely to be learning!

Preparation for exam days: Being well prepared can take the edge off the anxiety so don’t forget the pens, pencils, calculators, clear water bottles and pencil cases that you’ll need ready for the exams. Try to arrive early enough to avoid rushing and stay away from panicky friends. Nerves are contagious!

During the exams: Remember to be clear on all the instructions and to read the questions twice. Don’t lose marks by not knowing what’s expected of you or because you forget to turn over the final page! We’ve all done it!! If you’ve got to write an essay, make a plan. It will help you stay calm and focused and you can tick things off as you go. If you become daunted or anxious, skip the hard questions and build your confidence by tackling the easy ones first, remembering always to come back to the beginning of the paper to tackle the harder questions. 

Don’t leave the exam early: use that extra time to check your work!

These links might be useful:

meditation for exam stress

five finger breathing

If you need support in half-term, BeingBest is offering all the sciences, Maths, Psychology, Geography and English.

Over the Summer we will be offering programmes for students who want to get a head start before the new academic year (both for GCSE and A-level students). We will be covering both content and learning and revising techniques including mind-mapping.

Lastly, well done on all your hard work. We know it’s not easy. Thank you for coming on our courses and, of course, best of luck with the exams!