High School Survival Guide
There's 24 hours before your test... here's the plan
By Lisa Clark
We have this feeling you’re probably more organised than you realise, you’re quietly confident because you’ve put in the hard yards the last month or so and you just don’t want to mess it up in the last day or so.
Here’s the plan of attack to ensure all of your hard work isn’t wasted, we want your marks to reflect the sacrifice and time you have put in to be able to nail your exams.
1. Revise and revise again
Revision is key here people! Ensure you have given yourself enough time to revise your study notes and workbooks pre-exam. Although most of the information will be planted firmly in your mind it is important you have had practice runs of past exam papers and a firm understanding of the topic or questions that might get thrown at you.
2. Take another look over everything just before you go to sleep
Now is the time to do some light reading and maybe a few practice questions. It has been proven that learning before sleep improves memory retention, so make sure you have a read over the most important information before you call it a night!
3. Make sure you have all the details for your exams tomorrow
Don’t leave it to the last minute to look at your exam location and try to work out how you are going to get there. The morning before the exam needs to be as stress free as possible. Be sure to plan out what time you need to wake up, give yourself enough time to have breakfast, make your bed and be out the door and on route to your location whilst still giving yourself time to get a bottle of water and chill or revise for 10 minutes before you go in.
4. Be relaxed and well prepared
Hard-core brain work shouldn’t be on the agenda the night before your exam, instead take this time to exercise, relax by watching a movie or get lost in your favourite book. It is also the time to double check you have all of your equipment packed for the AM, get an early-ish night for a fantastic night’s sleep and schedule two alarms so you don’t sleep through and wake up late or in a fright.
5. Stay calm and focused
Keeping your stress levels in check and being relaxed will ensure your mind is sharp and ready to take on whatever tomorrow throws at you. Start thinking about your plan of attack for the test (eg. starting the hardest questions first while your mind is most alert) and if you feel like you are starting to get too stressed then stop and do some breathing exercises. Big breath in, hold for three seconds, then repeat until your mind starts to calm again.
Remember to be positive in your mindset and go into your exam with the confidence that you know your stuff and that the answers will come to the surface when you need them, because remember, you are prepared and ready to seize the day!
