"Burning the Midnight oil" before an exam

Poll

Would you/do you pull an all nighter before an exam?

Hey guys -

Im prone to this; though ive found the benefits outweigh the negatives. Do you find yourself pulling an all nighter revising before an exam? I find that it works very well - And the adrenaline which kicks in also works in my favor during the exam (Due to tiredness).

How about you?

- Stephen

Reply 1

SylverStrike

10

It's sort of what I'm doing now- I'm typing up physics notes for a physics exam that I've got tomorrow. I think it sometimes works, but only depending on the subject, because if lots of facts have to be learnt, then earlier revision is more of a benefit.

Let's just hope this isn't the case with physics. :biggrin:

Reply 2

ßlαcksωαn

17

sleep is best

Reply 3

StephenUK

OP

SylverStrike

It's sort of what I'm doing now- I'm typing up physics notes for a physics exam that I've got tomorrow. I think it sometimes works, but only depending on the subject, because if lots of facts have to be learnt, then earlier revision is more of a benefit.

Let's just hope this isn't the case with physics. :biggrin:

Indeed - The reason I made this post us im doing it now too for a philosophy and ethics exam and I dont want to feel alone :biggrin:

Reply 4

Glutamic Acid

17

I don't think it makes much difference with me, to be honest.

Reply 5

Xeijin

I've been told time and time again either by the introductory paragraph in my revision guide, my teachers or my parents that cramming dosen't work.

However, I personally think it works. When I know its only a matter of hours until my exam something kicks in inside my brain and I stop procrastinating and seem to begin absorbing information faster.

I think it's down to the person though. My friend cannot do without a good nights sleep before an exam whereas with me, It's not really an issue (i.e. I'm so worried about doing well in the exam that I've never felt sleepy regardless of lack of sleep).

The worst was probably during my GCSE English coursework. I'm a chronic procrastinator (i.e. lazy lol) and so I had left three of the five pieces to the last minute. I ended up going to school coming home and working as fast as I could to do finish them resulting in a period of two days where I actually didn't have any sleep but worked through the night til morning and then went to school and handed them in. Two of them got As, the other got an A*. So I don't think lack of sleep has much of an effect on me? (Did pretty much the same thing through gcse exams btw).

Also on another note, anyone have any tips for overcoming procrastination? It's frustrating because I feel like it's the only thing hindering me. My brain really only gets serious in those hours before the exam!

Reply 6

Vanessesa!

i always do it, really works for me...

Reply 7

caraniel

I was a great fan of cramming, it worked for me. But could never do the stay up all night thing prior to the exam (used to do that a few days before the exam when I discovered most of my notes were utter crap). I think having a good nights sleep is a very valuable thing to refresh you, although if my exams were at 9am I would be up at 5.30am squeezing the last bits of info into my brain! But really it depends on what works for the individual, everyone has a different pattern. :smile:

Reply 8

SylverStrike

10

Xeijin

Also on another note, anyone have any tips for overcoming procrastination? It's frustrating because I feel like it's the only thing hindering me. My brain really only gets serious in those hours before the exam!

I always find making lists of stuff really helps. Like, if you know you have to do such and such homework or revision, just plan your whole week, or maybe even your whole month it advance, allocating certain pieces of work and revision to certain days, leaving plenty of time. I find ticking off boxes and knowing that you've done something really satisfying.

Reply 9

StephenUK

OP

Xeijin

Also on another note, anyone have any tips for overcoming procrastination? It's frustrating because I feel like it's the only thing hindering me. My brain really only gets serious in those hours before the exam!

I also procratinate a hell of a lot. It seems to be more of an attitude; because I only procratinate when it comes to school work - I reckon I could solve that by changeing my attitude to school work; but I keep procrastinateing that too! :p:

Reply 10

Kashya

13

I slept for hours tonight instead of studying, so now instead of sleeping, I shall study!

I find it works best for me. So I'm starting my Physics revision is about five minutes. :biggrin:

Reply 11

penny_lane89

Xeijin

Also on another note, anyone have any tips for overcoming procrastination? It's frustrating because I feel like it's the only thing hindering me. My brain really only gets serious in those hours before the exam!

Im exactly the same, except in those precious hours I will usually have a fit of hysterical crying because I have no time left, but then my brain kicks in and I revise as much as I can. Cramming works for me but lately ive starting leaving things so so so so sooooo late that that its literally impossible to learn everything in those last hours.

Overcoming procrastination...hmm the making lists thing that someone mentioned works for me for like a week until I get lazy again. Sometimes I will literally have a go at myself, along the lines of "do some ****ing revision you stupid cow!" lol, again it rarely works. But honestly I really do need some tips on overcoming procrastinating...anyone else got any advice?

Reply 12

Zoecb

11

Go to the library with no materials that you can proscrastinate with.

Reply 13

- skyhigh -

14

I do it quite often. It seems to work for me; only because I can live on less than 6 hours of sleep on most days.

Reply 14

Runaground

Works like a charm!

Reply 15

Invocation

12

Doesn't work for me, and I've tried many a time. I find going to bed earlier and getting an extra hour or two or revision before the exam works a lot better.

Reply 16

dr_oliver50

Pro Plus Caffeine Tablets!!!

Dont half feel S*** on the comedown!

Reply 17

Liar

12

penny_lane89

Im exactly the same, except in those precious hours I will usually have a fit of hysterical crying because I have no time left, but then my brain kicks in and I revise as much as I can. Cramming works for me but lately ive starting leaving things so so so so sooooo late that that its literally impossible to learn everything in those last hours.

Overcoming procrastination...hmm the making lists thing that someone mentioned works for me for like a week until I get lazy again. Sometimes I will literally have a go at myself, along the lines of "do some ****ing revision you stupid cow!" lol, again it rarely works. But honestly I really do need some tips on overcoming procrastinating...anyone else got any advice?

Lol you sound exactly like me! :p:

But yer cramming the night before definitely works for me. I remember for my biology exam last year i was panicking at 11 the night before because i had not paid attention all year and i got a Ds in all the practice papers i was doing. I went into serious cramming mode and to my surprise came out with 120/120 :biggrin:

So yes for me cramming definitely works. I don't think i'll leave it quite that late again though :wink:

Reply 18

Guvnor

15

Before uni it always used to work for me, but at uni never and on top if I try to cram things in, I just end up forgetting what I already know,which is not very helpful. Another thing that works for me aswell is being slightly drunk, this way I can recall everything :biggrin:

, I dont know why ? so dont ask. But Its better if you have a good night's sleep though.

Reply 19

tuesday91

1

I think it depends on the exam. Some things you just have to know how to do it and have gradually built up an understanding and in which case cramming = no good. But I must say that for my history mocks I did do some last minute cramming which I was insanely grateful for because luckily some of the facts were fresh in my mind.
So maybe cramming for processes and techniques, not so good, cramming for facts, better?
I don't know.

"Burning the Midnight oil" before an exam

Would you/do you pull an all nighter before an exam?

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