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Examinations play a very important role in your evaluation. They can range in value from 10 to 60% of your final mark in high school, and up to 100% in university. Thus it is obvious that special attention is required when studying for exams. 

Use the following steps to maximize your potential: 

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

• attend all your classes and take notes

 
• do your homework regularly

 
• organize your notebook

 
• review the week's worth of notes for about half an hour each weekend

 

• your weekly reviews should make studying easier

 
• prepare a special study schedule for the exam period

 
• make summary sheets of the essential formulas, facts, dates, etc.

 
• ask your teacher about the exam format (multiple choice, essay questions, etc.) and prepare yourself accordingly

 
• check your school's library for copies of old exams   (Most schools keep a few years' worth of old exams for the benefit of its students.)

 
• pay close attention to the material being taught right before the exam (if the teacher is trying to cram it in over a short period of time, expect it to be on the exam  - BIG Time!)

 
• study in intervals of 25-40 minutes, followed by 5-10 minute breaks (this strategy has been proven to be more effective than prolonged sessions)

 
• take relaxation sessions 

 
• If you have a fast connection, download this 25-second movie clip of a man having a bad day at the office. It serves as a reminder of what not to do when you're feeling frustrated

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• don't spend all night cramming (it won't help!)

 
• have some 'down' time before sleep

 
• relax, take a brisk 30 minute walk outside

 
• have one last look at your summary sheet before you go to bed

 
• set your alarm (you don't want to be late on the big day!)

 
• don't panic

 
• if you can't fall asleep, take deep breaths and think about something relaxing (ie. your March break trip to Acapulco)

 
• have a good night's sleep  (studies have shown that 8 hours of sleep the night before an exam improves your mark by 25%, especially when the test is multiple-choice)
  
  
• if you don't know it by now, you'll never know it, so relax!
  
  

• have a good breakfast but not something heavy like bacon and eggs (since your blood flow will be directed towards digesting your meal and it won't be going to your brain)

 
• wear layered clothing  (you never know how hot it will be in the exam room)

 
• arrive at the exam early

 
• make sure you have everything you need (pen, pencil, ruler, compass, calculator)

 
• don't panic like the other kids!

 
• take a quiet stroll alone around the school and recite the info in your head

 
• enter the exam room with confidence 

 
• breathe deeply and remain calm

• when you pick up the exam, don't start writing immediately

 
• make sure you have all the pages

 
• read all the questions and directions

 
• look at the marking scheme

 
• spend the majority of your allotted time on the heavily weighted sections

 
• pay close attention to any verbal instructions  given by the teacher

 
• once you start, plan your time wisely

• start with questions you can easily answer

 
• leave any multiple-choice questions till the end (they're designed to waste your time)

 
• read the questions and directions carefully (if you don't answer the question as directed you'll get zero!)

 
• re-read your answers to make sure they actually answer the question

 
• if you don't understand a question, ask the teacher

 
• if you're stuck on a question, go onto the next one (the answer may pop into your head later)

 
• even if you don't know the answer, try to write something down (you might get part marks)

 
• never leave multiple-choice questions blank (if you don't know the answer and there's no penalty for guessing, go right ahead!)

• at the end of the exam, review your answers, and correct minor errors

 
• don't erase anything you're not sure of (it's probably right!)

 
• before you hand in the exam, make sure your name is on every page

 
• hand in your exam and relax (You deserve it!)

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