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Stressed about exams? Here are tips to minimise stress and maximise productivity

💭 Have you ever opened a test paper, not understood the question, and felt stupid when you looked around the room to see everyone else already writing?

💭 Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by a past paper that you gave up without even attempting the first question?

💭 Have you ever been embarrassed to share your test results with your friends because you're worried they'll think badly of you?

💭 Have you ever worried that you will let down your family if you do not get into your firm university?

💭 Have you ever cried, lost sleep, couldn’t eat, or spent an entire evening doing absolutely nothing because you couldn’t concentrate enough to study but felt too guilty to do anything else?

If you can relate to any of the above – stop and take a few deep breaths. You are not alone. Everyone has faced an exam or coursework that they felt was going to completely defeat them. Sometimes it makes you want to give up without even trying. However, if you want to achieve your goals then you need to tackle your exams head on. And the Studying, revision, & exam support board is the place where you can vent and seek both academic help and emotional support during this stressful time.

Note: anonymous posting has been enabled in this board. This means that you are welcome to post threads anonymously to discuss your revision experiences.

Study Smarter, Not Longer! Tips to Minimise Stress and Maximise Productivity

Be organised

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If you’re panicking, you might think that planning out your revision sessions before starting is a waste of time. However, if you make the effort to plan out exactly what you need to know and when you need to learn it by then your study sessions will flow more coherently and feel more efficient. You're also less likely to miss content this way.

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Check out the article How to effectively study for your exams for tips on how to prepare effectively.

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You can also use TSR’s own Study Planner to create a revision timetable.

Be methodical

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Create a pre-study routine. If you know you want to begin revising at the same time every day, then create a routine that leads up to this. One example would be to eat the same thing for breakfast, walk the same route, then light the same scented candle before you sit down to study. If you develop a study routine you'll find that you will be able to get into the right headspace to study much more quickly. This will enable you to get more out of each session.

Be relaxed

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While you might think you don’t have time for breaks, it is actually beneficial to work in shorter bursts than to sit for hours on end. When you take breaks be careful to spend them wisely so that it feels like you actually took a break. So instead of browsing through social media find something to do that actively engages your mind or body. Get up and go for a jog, bake, play a half hour of a video game, etc.

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Need inspiration? Check out what films other members are watching, what games they are playing, or request a book recommendation!

Be communicative

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You might hit a point where you feel you've grasped at every lifeline yet somehow still feel as if you're drowning. If you’re struggling to manage your own basic needs or feel your mental health is suffering then it is time to seek help. Speaking to your friends, your parents, your teacher, your guidance counsellor, or even your GP can help to alleviate some of the burden. They’ll each be able to offer you different forms of support – remember that no one wants to see you fail.

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It may also help you to talk to other people in the same boat. Check out the GCSE Exam Discussions 2023 and A-level Exam Discussions 2023 to find other people sitting the same exams as you. This can make the situation feel less isolating.

Be proactive

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Is there something in your home environment that is hindering your ability to study? If so, take the initiative to talk to your family members about ways you can improve the space. This might mean politely asking your parents or siblings to please respect your study time and to not disturb you between 6-8pm each night.

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If your environment is too loud, try wearing earphones – if music is distracting for you then there are websites such as [url=" Rainy Mood that provide weather sounds.

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If your family are not cooperative, look into studying in your local library.

Check out the article Your Guide to Handling Revision and Exam Stress for further advice on how to manage stress at every step in the process.

Resources

Childline is a service provided by the NSPCC offering confidential support and advice to children and young people.

Mind is a charity providing mental health support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Young Minds is a charity working to improve emotional well-being and mental health amongst children and young people.

Children and young people’s mental health services (CYPMHS) are services that work with children and young people who have difficulties with their mental health or wellbeing.

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Anxiety UK: anxietyuk.org.uk or helpline on 03444 775 774 or text support on 07537 416 905

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The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust: charliewaller.org

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Kooth: kooth.com

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The Mix: themix.org.uk or helpline on 0808 808 4994

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Samaritans: samaritans.org or helpline on 116 123

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stem4: stem4.org.uk

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 1

Teesside University

Official Rep

Revision can be overwhelming, and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start, so here are some of our top tips to support you through exam season.

It’s never too early
The earlier you start the longer you’ll have to revise your material and break down your topics into manageable sections.

Organise your time
Create a realistic timetable to plan how long you’re going to spend on each topic and when. Make sure to include time for relaxation, socialising, exercise, fresh air, regular meals and sleep.

Find out what type of learner you are
Knowing how you learn can help you to revise effectively. Find out what works for you. If you are a visual person create posters, drawings and visual aids and place these around your room so you can read them as you are going about your day. If you are a verbal learner, try teaching (or explaining) someone the information or discuss it with a friend or family member. Or why not record some of the information you need?

Consolidate your notes
Go through your notes and highlight the most important and relevant sections. Create bullet points to gather the highlighted information, try to keep it down to one page.

Use YouTube tutorials
A lot of useful, educational and revision-based content can be found on YouTube. Most of the videos are interesting and can help keep your concentration for longer. It’s a good way to break up your revision practice and think about the information in a new way.

Past papers
Past papers are a great way to understand what types of questions you may be asked, use these to test how much information you are retaining. Most practice exam questions and answers can be downloaded from the exam board website. Also, create flashcards and use your notes to create questions and answers. You can carry these around and quiz yourself whenever you want to (or ask someone else).

Review your topics
When you think you have gone through all the information, read through your page of bullet points to make sure you have remembered everything you thought was important at the beginning.

Create a positive study space
Choose a space in your home (or on campus Library, or preferred coffee shop) to study in and set yourself up to work, keeping the area fresh and tidy. Make sure you have your laptop, iPad etc in the right position, gather your stationery, notes and books and make yourself comfortable.

Look after yourself
Take regular study breaks, stay hydrated and eat regular meals. Your body needs fuel so avoid eating fast food and takeaways and choose fresh vegetables and fruit that will keep your energy levels up. Make sure you are still socialising with friends and family or doing a leisure activity or hobby to help you relax. Taking the time each day to take part in exercise or go for a walk will also help you to unwind. We’d also recommend getting at least eight hours of sleep each night, so you’re alert and focussed.

Get support if you need it
Lots of people find exam pressure difficult, so if you’re feeling stressed or your revision may be affected by issues outside of your control, seek help and get support. Speak to your tutors, teachers, college, school, university, a family member or friend.

Good luck! I hope these tips are helpful for you as you prepare for your exams.
Hannah- Teesside University