Canterbury College - What to do the Night Before Your Exam

What to do the Night Before Your Exam

It’s exams season and although this can be quite a stressful time of year for some of you, there are things that you can do to make life a little easier for yourself. Hopefully, you have been working hard in preparing for the exam and revising effectively, but what you do the evening before your exam may have a big impact on how you perform on the day. Read on to get some tips about how you can prepare the night before.

1. Wrap up your Revision Early

Go over any notes that you have made, or get your friends/family to test you on anything that you have struggled with during the revision process. It is important not to overdo it the night before the exam as this could lead to exhausting yourself. Think about the things that you do know and then take some time to remind yourself of the things that you feel less confident with. This will help you feel a lot more positive.

2. Get Prepared and be Organised

Think about the things you will need to take to your exam the next day, including any special equipment, snacks and water. Packing your bag the night before, with all of your day-to-day essentials, will take the pressure off on the morning of the exam.

Also, think about how you will get into College. If you rely on public transport consider if you can catch an earlier train or bus, to ensure that you arrive at College with plenty of time. It’s always a good idea to have a back-up plan in case your usual transport is delayed or cancelled.

3. Stay Calm and Relaxed

It’s very important to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep before your exam. To ensure that you’re able to get to sleep easily, ensure that you are completely relaxed before you head to bed. Refrain from using your phone or computer for long periods before bed, as the artificial light will trick your brain into thinking it needs to stay awake and will mean that it will take you longer to fall asleep. Other things that may relax you could include taking a bath, listening to music or reading a book.

Don’t be tempted to stay awake all night to revise – this is counter-productive as it will make you very tired and you may not be able to focus on your exam the next day.

4. Make the Most of Your Morning

Wake up with plenty of time to go about your morning routine and double-check that you have everything you need. Some students find it helpful to have a quick glance over their revision notes, where some prefer to focus on keeping calm and relaxed.

Whatever you do, make sure you eat a nutritious breakfast. Pick something that is not too high in sugar, as this may lead to an energy dip later in the day.

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