5 tips on getting ready for an exam

To be ready for exams, it is not enough to do only the basics. No! It is also necessary to prepare and plan your studying ... Here are my tips to do so!

1. Give yourself time!

Personally, I like to start studying 2 weeks before the day of the exam. Everyone has already heard the famous "I perform better under pressure"... but what is it really? Maybe for some people it works and if that's your case, then I'm happy for you (and a bit envious!) ! For me, it's not an option: starting early is my golden rule.

So reading the course outline is as well. This is where the exam dates are written and I suggest you write them down right away in your planner, in addition to creating a reminder two weeks and a week before the exam, so you are assured not to forget it. Also, getting started early means that you can afford to do smaller study sessions more often, which feels less tiring than studying non-stop for hours! I hate doying long study sessions, because it makes me feel groggy and unhappy, so that's why I prefer smaller ones.

2. Use a study planner

I did not use a study planner during my first university year, but last session I discovered the blog The Cosmic Road and at the same time the utility of these plans. Alana offers a pdf for free, but by using it I decided to create one myself so that it is in French and that it adapts more to my needs. Using a study planner really helped me to get a clear idea of ​​what I was studying, why and at what level I was. I really suggest using one, because I enjoyed my experience, as I explain here.

3. Ask questions

It's important to go and see the teacher so that he will answer the questions you get while studying. And I'm not saying that just because I'm a teacher in the making! This is the most direct and certain source for explaining concepts! Group support is very good too, but it is better to vary sources to avoid having an incorrect answer or missing an element. I am quite shy, so sometimes I prefer asking my questions by email, to avoid talking in front of the whole class. Or I go and see the teacher on one-on-one.

4. Find what works best for you

I have a friend who copies all her notes. Another that just re-reads. And I teach my favorite pupil (my father <3) or friends. In fact, it's personal to everyone. Some people have a brain that works in a more visual, auditory, kinesthetic (through action) way... To find out what works best, you have to try. I know that I have neither the patience nor the interest of copying my notes, but that teaching forces me to make connections between my concepts and allows me to hear myself. So try, explore and work in the way that suits you.

5. Do not study the day of the exam (do not, like not)

And stay away from those who do. It's a fact that all my college friends know: do not talk to me before an exam, do not ask me questions, or I am dead! Studying the same day adds extra stress, because I become aware of all the flaws (real or not) in my understanding of notions. And since it makes me feel like I'm not prepared enough, I'm less confident and so less successful. This is called perception de compétence : the more you believe in your ability to succeed, the more likely you are to succeed and vice versa. (Yeah, I managed to integrate some humanistic pedagogy here!)

Study well!

Xoxox

Camille Élisabeth