Published by Programme B
Preparing for a test can be one of the most stressful and emotional times in our lives. The importance of a positive grade can add so much pressure to the test that it can make you forget everything you know. To get the best possible result, you must get all the assistance you can. This can come from parents, teachers, and friends, but also some less utilized resources.
To help everyone out there get the grades they deserve, here are 3 ways to get some help with your test preparations.
1. Use Past Papers to Familiarize Yourself with Exam Process
Studying past exam papers is a great way to familiarize yourself with the paper’s format, timing, and question style. Many students go into an exam having learned all of the core information and skills perfectly only to be thrown by an unfamiliar paper which doesn’t seem to resemble anything which they have learned. Math and science exams in particular can sometimes throw a curveball in the way in which questions are worded. The actual process of calculation will be something that you know perfectly but you have to decipher what is being asked before you can work out which method to apply. Practicing past papers will get you used to any eccentricities in how questions are asked so you won’t be surprised when you encounter them in the real test.
Another way which past papers can be useful is that they can help you to predict which questions are likely to come up. Some exam boards will rotate or alternate which units or areas of study they put in the test each year. By studying the pattern of questions from previous years, you may be able to focus your study on what you think will come up on your test. While you should never totally discount a unit from your revision, it can help you to plan your time more efficiently.
2. Hire a Tutor to Help You Prepare
Hiring a tutor can be a massive help in preparing for a big test as they provide so many benefits. A tutor can help you with any aspects of the course material which you don’t understand and will be able to focus only on you. The specialists at www.tutorstorm.com/ explain that when you study with other students in class, the teacher only has so much time they can give to try to ensure that every student understands the lesson, but when that time is up, the teacher has to move on to the next thing. Your tutor will be able to keep working on a difficult subject or concept with you until you understand perfectly. Experienced tutors will usually have access to extensive course material such as the past papers we talked about above, and if they have taught other students who have previously taken the same test as you, they will know the best way to prepare.
Another benefit of a tutor is that there is a set time when you have to do study. Creating and following a revisions schedule can be difficult and many of us end up procrastinating or becoming distracted. With a tutor coming to your home or meeting you somewhere else to study, you are guaranteed to use that time effectively and so will be fully prepared when it is time for the test.
3. Speak to a Counselor
Taking a test can be very stressful and many students study properly and are fully prepared but whose mind goes blank when they sit down and open the paper. Tests can cause enormous anxiety and any coping mechanisms which help you with any mental or emotional issues you may have around exam time can be invaluable. Some people find that yoga or meditation helps them to control their mind, lower their heart rate, and go to the test calm and composed.
For other people, speaking to a counselor can be an enormous help as they can talk through their issues with an impartial confidante. This is very useful as it can sometimes be difficult talking to friends and family about these problems as they are often very nervous for you too and so can end up making the situation worse. A counselor can help you stay calm so that you can focus on the questions and get the best score possible.
Tests don’t need to be traumatic occasions if you prepare correctly. Follow these three tips and you will be able to take the pressure off yourself and get the grades that all of your hard work deserves.