5 Study Tips For Upcoming Exams

Exams are some of the most nerve-racking things for students. It doesn’t matter how important the exam is or how many previous exams they’ve done, there is something innately anxiety-inducing about them.

Unfortunately, they’re not something that can be avoided. Exams are typically used to judge overall understanding and academic level - poor performance in this one test can negate weeks or months of hard work. Which is why nailing study and preparation is so important.

Whether your child is facing end of term or semester assessments, end of year exams, scholarship exams or entry exams for a new school, these five tips can help ensure they are prepared to manage both the content and the pressure of exams and make them feel (and perform) better.

5 Exam Study & Preparation Tips

1. Take Practice Exams

Practice exams (including past exams for the same subject) are a great way to get a feel of what to expect and the sort of questions you’re going to be asked. While you can never know exactly what you’ll be tested on, practice exams will help you better understand the format and allow you to test yourself on different types of questions and answers within set time limits.

2. Write Notes

Whether you like to write down pages of notes or prefer a flashcard, writing down what you’re reading and learning will help you to recall it better later. It will also help you go back and revise the most important areas of your study material, making it easier to go over your must-know points again and again as you prepare for your exam.

3. Get Tested

Writing notes also helps with the next big tip - getting someone to test you on the exam content! A bit like an informal practice exam, this will help you really solidify your knowledge of the content and help with your recall. Best of all, you can get a friend or family member to test you on quick facts using your notes anywhere, any time!

4. Explain The Content 

Einstein once said that if you can’t explain a concept simply, then you don’t really understand it. One of the best ways to remember exam content and the subject you’re studying is to explain it to someone else. This can be especially helpful with long-form content (like essays) or specific, complex concepts (like biology).

5. Get Support From A Tutor

Private tutoring can give students a significant advantage when it comes to exam preparation and performance. Tutors can ensure that you’re focussing on the exact right content, using techniques and tools that improve recall, and answering questions in a way that aligns with how the exam will be marked.

How Can Tutors Help With Exam Study?

The benefit of tutoring starts long before the exam - making sure students are learning in a way that best suits them, optimising their study time with the right techniques, and improving their confidence when it comes to their academic abilities.

Tutoring ensures students aren’t just studying, but that they’re studying in a way that will help prepare them specifically for assessments and exams. It’s not just about knowing the content but understanding how to answer questions to gain top marks.

For example, high school tutoring  can help students prepare for and excel in end of year assessments and/or exams. While entrance exam tutoring can help students prepare specifically for entrance or scholarship exams, which differ considerably from end of year subject exams and are much more competitive.

Help Your Child Master Their Study & Their Exams

While it’s up to your child to put in the work to prepare for their exams, study isn’t something they have to do by themselves. Helping your child with their study by offering support, testing them, and providing encouragement or extra help through tutoring will help them stay on track.

If you’re unsure how to guide your child to get the most out of their study time or to improve their confidence around exams, engaging a tutor can be a great option. Little Geniuses is one of Australia’s leading online tutoring services - we have helped thousands of children of all ages excel in their schooling and their exams.

Whether you want to reduce the anxiety your child has around exams, help them receive better results, or are interested in tutoring for private school entrance exams, we can help. Get in touch to learn more about our tutoring services and study tips.