Get Through Exam Season!
- April C
- Jan 7, 2025
- 4 min read
Exams are coming up for many people and it’s time to lock in! At the start, we are motivated to become an academic weapon and strive for the semester but end up studying all our subjects the night before the exam.
You aren’t lazy. As exams pile up, our stress increases and the amount of content we have to study demotivates us to start. The only way we get that motivation is the impending doom of the upcoming exams. The thing is…
Don’t rely on motivation to start.
You make tons of choices every day and each one matters. Motivation isn’t always going to be on your side but that doesn’t change the fact that you have exams. You have the choice of whether to study or not. Which will you take?
James Clear's book, Atomic Habits, states that you shouldn’t focus on the end goal but on your system. What are you going to do to get to your goals?
Work to benefit yourself instead of telling yourself you have to do good. Create habits that become part of your daily life to achieve your goals.
Ways to Get Through Exams
McMaster University has given 7 tips for navigating exam season. Implement these habits in your daily life to have a better chance at your exams and a healthier life overall.
Tip 1
GET. ENOUGH. SLEEP.
According to Nationwide Children's Hospital, high school students get between 7 7 ¼ hours of sleep. However, studies have shown that most teenagers need around 9 hours of sleep to function.
This is due to shifts in sleep schedule, early school times and certain obligations such as homework and activities.
Sleep deprivation can impact many parts of your life which include academic performance.
Sleep is what helps with memory and improves focus. Also, you will feel refreshed and prepared if you sleep through the night instead of pulling an all-nighter.
Check out this sleep calculator: https://sleepopolis.com/calculators/sleep/ to find the right time to fall asleep and ensure you get a full night’s rest!
Tip 2
Stay Hydrated and Nourished!
Take the time you need to hydrate and nourish your body with nutrients. While it can be complicated to fulfill those needs, your health is your priority and those nutrients help with brain function.
Not only will it help with exams but also with your life. Water and food are living needs so make sure you fuel yourself with them.
Tip 3
Get Active!!!
I know most of us have been too busy with our school work, slouching at our desks as we look at our computer screens to even think of exercise. However, activity is very important for our bodies.
Not only does it improve our physical health and decrease the chances of medical conditions, but it can improve our brain function and cognitive skills.
Physical activity allows the release of hormones that promote brain cell growth, allowing the brain to improve memory formation and retention. This is what helps us with our exams.
Tip 4
Set Realistic Goals.
It’s 2025 now. Many of us have our new year’s resolutions but this time, we need to stick to them. That’s by setting realistic goals. As I said before, focus on your system, not on the goals themselves. Make sure you know that your system can be integrated into a natural part of your life to the point that it’s being subconsciously done.
Focus on the progress and don’t strive for perfection. Know what you are setting and don’t see the result, but see what you want to change.
For example, instead of saying:
“I want straight As on my report card!”
Say:
“I want to study at least 30 minutes every day for exams.”
30 minutes is plausible to spend on studying during exam prep and you are giving yourself a minimum to reach. It’s a guideline for you to make sure you know what to do. To make it more organized, you can even set a specific time of day you are going to study and set an alarm. You have to take the step to follow through.
It’s about wanting to achieve better habits which help you achieve your lifetime goals.
Tip 5
Use Positive Affirmations!
Use affirmations to motivate you such as:
I’m going to perform well on the exam!
Learning is insightful and enjoyable!
I’m going to work hard!
I’m doing great!
We have to identify ourselves with the person we want to become. If we say negative things like:
I’m going to fail the exam!
I’m not smart…
Learning isn’t worth it…
Then yes, learning isn’t worth it if you think of it as that way. Sure, positive affirmations aren’t going to automatically give you good marks but they’ll give you the confidence and motivation to try to achieve it.
If we are thinking negatively, then, what’s the point in trying? We want to try!
Tip 6
McMaster advises the readers to try mediation but in general, try mindfulness exercises to calm your mind. Test anxiety isn’t easy and happens to many people. We can combat it by grounding ourselves, fighting our negative thinking and focusing our attention on something else.
There are many ways to participate in mindfulness! One of them which is easy and can be done right on the spot is using the 54321 sense meditation. While it is long, it can be shortened to 1 of each.
5 things you can see
4 things you can hear
3 things you can feel
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Try different ones out and see what works for you!
Tip 7
Ask for help.
You are not alone and there are many people, experts, specialists, and peers out there who can support you. Whether it’s simple as asking a teacher, talking to a friend or even coming to Locker SYS’s peer counselling function. Someone will be there to help.
Remember, exams aren’t everything. Focus on your progress and learning, not on the grade. Making mistakes is good because you learn from them. You got this and we wish you all good luck on your exams! Fight on!
References
“7 Tips for Navigating Exam Season.” McMaster University, 28 Nov. 2022,
“Sleep in Adolescents.” Nationwide Children’s Hospital,
“The Power of Movement: How Physical Activity Boosts Academic Outcomes.” Hiveclass, 15
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