How Not to Die During Exam Season
We all know that exam season is the toughest time of our teenage years but it is not the end of the world, you will survive.
Exams are diffcult, whether that's GCSE's or A-Levels or your Uni exams. No level of exams are harder than the other, we're all at different levels of life and we can't help finding exams hard.
I haven't sat an exam in a year now, and it feels weird but I got to this point in my life and so can you, even if they aren't your forte. I've always preferred BTEC's/coursework to sit down exams. Exams make me nervous and paranoid about everything. I always thought "Someone has put something in my hair or on my back and now everyone in the exam hall can see. I'm gonna die." or "The invigilator is looking at me, she knows I got this question wrong with her psychic powers." but that's probably just my anxiety.
At least with BTEC's you can do the coursework in the comfort of your own home & the classroom and may I add that BTEC's are 1000000% not easier than exams, they take a lot of dedication and hard work but it all depends on what you prefer so if you are currently taking your GCSE's, take that into consideration when deciding your A-Levels.
Don't put your heart and soul into revising and forget about your social life, go out with your friends, watch a movie, play around on Twitter for a bit. Just remember not to get caught up on it. It may seem hard to balance revision and your social life but it's possible. Don't lose touch with the fun side of yourself. You've got this.
It's tempting to run downstairs and grab a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar when revising but they're going to slow you down. Foods such as oats and bananas, which have a slow release of energy rather than fast and quick like junk food. Vitamin C is a known performance booster so munch away on some strawberries or blueberries if you feel hungry during revision. I had a blueberry smoothie before every exam and I must say it definitely kept me going, especially during those horrible morning exams.
It's easy to lose focus of yourself and start comparing yourself to your friends during this time but everyone is different and the way you're preparing for your exams is unique to you. If Melissa is doing 5 hours of revision every night but you're only doing 2, so what? You're not Melissa and if the way you're revising is helping you then stick to it.
Your health comes before anything. If you're not sleeping properly you're not going to be able to focus on anything and you will fail your exams. Make a timetable of your day and make sure you fit in at least 8 or 9 hours sleep so you're fresh and ready to start the next day.
If you find yourself needing help on a specific area on a topic don't be afraid to ask your teachers. That's what they're there for and they will be happy to help. My ex Maths teacher used to say to us if we ever needed him to mark a practice paper then he would happily do so. Just ask!
Find the place that keeps you calm during revision, make sure it isn't a noisy place with people around, this can be very off putting. If possible, find somewhere where you won't be disturbed and you can cram a good few hours of revision. For me, my "spot" was my bedroom, I'd lock the door, sit at my desk and listen to quiet music.
You will get where you want to be! It's not the end of the world if you get a B when you were aiming for an A, it's not the end of the world if you get an F but were aiming for a B. You'll get through it. My Mum always said to me that as long as I know I tried my best during the exams, then she's proud of me. Don't let anyone tell you that you didn't do well!
I hope these tips helped you during this stressful time, I wish you the very best!
Exams are diffcult, whether that's GCSE's or A-Levels or your Uni exams. No level of exams are harder than the other, we're all at different levels of life and we can't help finding exams hard.
I haven't sat an exam in a year now, and it feels weird but I got to this point in my life and so can you, even if they aren't your forte. I've always preferred BTEC's/coursework to sit down exams. Exams make me nervous and paranoid about everything. I always thought "Someone has put something in my hair or on my back and now everyone in the exam hall can see. I'm gonna die." or "The invigilator is looking at me, she knows I got this question wrong with her psychic powers." but that's probably just my anxiety.
At least with BTEC's you can do the coursework in the comfort of your own home & the classroom and may I add that BTEC's are 1000000% not easier than exams, they take a lot of dedication and hard work but it all depends on what you prefer so if you are currently taking your GCSE's, take that into consideration when deciding your A-Levels.
1. Take breaks in between revising.
Don't put your heart and soul into revising and forget about your social life, go out with your friends, watch a movie, play around on Twitter for a bit. Just remember not to get caught up on it. It may seem hard to balance revision and your social life but it's possible. Don't lose touch with the fun side of yourself. You've got this.
2. Keep hydrated and remember to eat.
It's tempting to run downstairs and grab a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar when revising but they're going to slow you down. Foods such as oats and bananas, which have a slow release of energy rather than fast and quick like junk food. Vitamin C is a known performance booster so munch away on some strawberries or blueberries if you feel hungry during revision. I had a blueberry smoothie before every exam and I must say it definitely kept me going, especially during those horrible morning exams.
3. Don't compare yourself to anyone.
It's easy to lose focus of yourself and start comparing yourself to your friends during this time but everyone is different and the way you're preparing for your exams is unique to you. If Melissa is doing 5 hours of revision every night but you're only doing 2, so what? You're not Melissa and if the way you're revising is helping you then stick to it.
4. Sleep!
Your health comes before anything. If you're not sleeping properly you're not going to be able to focus on anything and you will fail your exams. Make a timetable of your day and make sure you fit in at least 8 or 9 hours sleep so you're fresh and ready to start the next day.
5. Ask for help when needed.
If you find yourself needing help on a specific area on a topic don't be afraid to ask your teachers. That's what they're there for and they will be happy to help. My ex Maths teacher used to say to us if we ever needed him to mark a practice paper then he would happily do so. Just ask!
6. Find your perfect spot.
Find the place that keeps you calm during revision, make sure it isn't a noisy place with people around, this can be very off putting. If possible, find somewhere where you won't be disturbed and you can cram a good few hours of revision. For me, my "spot" was my bedroom, I'd lock the door, sit at my desk and listen to quiet music.
7. Exams are not the end of the world.
You will get where you want to be! It's not the end of the world if you get a B when you were aiming for an A, it's not the end of the world if you get an F but were aiming for a B. You'll get through it. My Mum always said to me that as long as I know I tried my best during the exams, then she's proud of me. Don't let anyone tell you that you didn't do well!
I hope these tips helped you during this stressful time, I wish you the very best!
Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions for future blog posts.
đź’“ Phoebe xoxo
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