Originally Posted by
Ace
Well, basically you need to find time to figure out that's your studying style & work around it. I took my GCE O level exams [Nov Paper] last year & here's my 2 cents :D
;) Everyone's different. Ive never been nocturnal, more of a morning person really. But, when it comes to serious studying [for O or A levels] I cant study for peanuts in the day. So I'd start studying at around 9pm & go on till 3am. In the months before the major exams begin, give yourself time to figure out what study style works for you.
;) If you're planning on studying till the wee hours of the morning, keep a mug of coffee within reach & sip at it every half an hour or so. The night before your exam, dont drink coffee. Sometimes the caffeine only kicks in hours later. You might end up being involuntarily awake throughout the night.
;) Play baroque music softly in the background. In general, music with lyrics are not good when you're studying stuff like Literature/History.
;) Make sure you release your stress & anxiety practically daily during the course of the examinations. Just scream & punch your bed a lot. It keeps me sane, seriously. Here in Singapore, education is wayy competitive. In fact, in my class of 42, almost 10 of my classmates have grown grey hair. Or is that normal in every country? We're all 16 by the way.
;) Drink lots of mineral water & no matter when & where, get at least 6 hours of sleep a day. During the exam period, dont gamble with your food. If your digestive system is sensitive, stay away from dairy & spices. Eat some honeydew in the day, not night, before your exam. Dont be that sad student who wastes 15 minutes in the toilet during the paper.
;) Play a lil everyday. Laugh a lot. Just bring your younger sibling into your room & tell them stupid jokes & :Sign10: like it's the funniest thing you've ever heard. Then, when they're convinced that they've lost you to the land of asylum, tell them to leave & get to work.
;) If you're below 20, dont study with friends. It NEVER works. Out of the dozens of times Ive tried this, we end up playing Counter Strike, eating, gossiping or just plain goofing around for like 4 hours & study for less than an hour. When you're above 20, I heard that you're mature enough to actually sit down, shut up & study even with friends all around.
;) Also, stay away from people who say stuff like, "Why are u studying so much? Come on, relax like I do. I only read through 20% of the chapters, dont worry." These students usually end up failing their major exams. Just smile & say, "Haha, you're amazing then. But Im not that lucky & I think I need to study a whole lot more than you."
;) Address the causes of unnecessary anxiety & stress. Are you afraid that you wont meet someone's expectations & bring shame upon yourself? [Expecially aunties & uncles who keep comparing your results with their children's] ***** them all, its just about doing whatever it takes to ensure that you perform your best for the examinations.
Hope it helps.