Five study strategies to help you ace your exams

IF you break out in a cold sweat when you hear the word exam — you’re not alone. Up your study game with these five tips.

Staying awake when revising is key.

BELIEVE it or not, exams weren’t invented to make your life hell for a few weeks every year. We’re not completely convinced either, but there are some ways you can lessen the pain.

Here are five effective ways to get through the exam period (plus tips from students) whether you’re in year 10 or sitting your last exam ever.

Staying awake when revising is key.

1. Overhaul your study nook

It might be seem obvious but getting organised before, and not during the study period is a must (procrastination is not part of your study plan). Take a look at your study space — you should be the best of friends. Is it in a quiet area? Is your desk a mess? Do you need a new chair? Have you deleted Netflix from your laptop? Get rid of all procrastination-inducing distractions and if anything needs buying, moving, decluttering or uninstalling, now is the time to do it.

Student tip

“If you are an accomplished procrastinator like me, the best study space is not at home. I get distracted too easily so I head to the uni library. There’s a really good atmosphere which encourages concentration but just get there earlier as the desks fill up quickly.”

Emily, media student, RMIT.

Make the most of your train time by listening to study notes.

2. Revisit your routine

If your current study routine is a little stale, mixing things up is a great way to keep motivated. If you usually study alone, forming a study group with friends can be really productive, provided you’re all on the same page.

Take a break from reading notes and instead put posters up around the house — a vocab list for a language class, key passages from novels for English — the list goes on. Put posters up in obvious places (bathroom mirror, toilet door) but give your housemates or parents a head’s up. If you use public transport, create your own flashcards or photocopy key pages instead of lugging around text books.

Student tip

“Instead of writing notes for each week, team up with other class mates and divide the twelve weeks between you. With this method, which did feel a little odd at first, I spent less time writing up study notes and more time learning the content. I also read my notes aloud, recorded it on my phone and listened to the recordings while in transit. This method helps solidify the content in your memory by receiving the information in another way, rather than just reading.” Elizabeth, commerce student, Deakin University

Forming a study group with friends is a great way to revise.

3. Practice makes perfect

Just like riding a bike, good exam technique is something that can be learned with practice. As the semester wraps up, get a hold of some practice exams and form a study group with your friends. Sit the exam under test conditions to keep things as realistic as possible. Work out which part of an exam you need to work on.

The reading time, for instance, is so important but often misused. Read and re-read each question carefully, highlight key words or instructions and make note of the more difficult questions — it’s a good idea to answer these first when your mind is fresh. If you have extra time, read over the questions and your answers to ensure you’ve provided the correct response.

Student tip

“Someone told me in year 12 that to get into the course I wanted and get a near perfect English score I would need to write 100 essays. While I think that was an exaggeration, there is no substitute for practising under quiet, timed conditions as you would in an exam. This is especially helpful if you have timing problems. I did write 100 or more practice essays during VCE and I think that it helped me get the score I needed, but any practice you can do in similar conditions will always help. This goes for math exams too — do as many practice exams as you can!”

Alessandra, media graduate, The University of Melbourne.

4. Ask for help

If you’ve had trouble understanding a topic during the semester, book in some time to speak to your teacher or tutor. Have some specific questions ready or a couple of past assessments to go over. Asking for help might feel a little uncomfortable, but try to not feel embarrassed — your teachers are happy to help and know how important it is to support you. They’ll know which areas you need to work on and will point you in the right direction.

Student tip

“If I don’t understand something I usually ask friends. They’re able to explain things clearly and if they don’t know then we go and talk to our teacher together.”

Chris, VCE student.

Study breaks should include a dose of desktop yoga.

5. Get healthy

If the three c’s are your go-to during exams (coffee, chocolate, chips) put down the family block. We love chocolate as much as the next person but consuming sugary foods and caffeine during exams (or any situation you find stressful) is a habit that’s best squashed. Swap your unhealthy snack for fruit, nut and seed mix or even popcorn.

If you enjoy exercising, don’t give up your daily run or bike ride for more study time (a walk around the block with your dog counts, too). Researchers at New Mexico Highlands University found that walking sends pressure waves through the arteries which modifies and increases the supply of blood to the brain and therefore improving cognitive function. Put late-night partying or working long hours on hold until exams are over; a good night’s rest really does wonders.

Student tip

“It’s important to stay sane! Take breaks often and do something that will reset your mind. Take a good look at your schedule and make sure it’s working for you. I quit my part-time job and took up yoga during my final semester of uni. It got me through with great grades.”

Amanda, science graduate, The University of Melbourne.