Crucial Exam Prep Tips for Students Tackling the Leaving Cert
The final lead up to the exams can be one of the toughest times for Leaving Cert students as you grapple with last minute revision and the natural stress felt as the Leaving Cert becomes the main focus of media attention in early June. Like any athlete or performer, it will be a lot easier when you actually get started and it is best to try to use exam stress to drive you on rather than immobilise you. It may be hard to imagine at the moment when the exams are all-consuming, that the Leaving Cert, although an important milestone, certainly will not define you. Regardless of what happens in each exam, you will have lots of options available to you and an interesting journey ahead.
Before the Exams
Have a schedule of the exams with your exams dates/time highlighted hanging up where it is obvious and visible at home and screenshot the timetable so you have it on your phone. It can be found on www.examinations.ie
Have summary notes ready to glance over the night before each exam and make sure you are clear on what questions are compulsory, the marking scheme for each paper and the timing for each question.
Stick to a good routine with a healthy balance of revision, rest, fresh air, sleep and diet. Don’t be tempted to work late at night as it is usually unproductive and impacts on your concentration the following day.
During the Exams
Set 2 alarms for the mornings of exams and allow lots of extra time. You will need to be in your assigned seat in the exam centre at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam on day one and 15 minutes before all other exams. Have any utensils needed for the exam ready the night before.
Hydration is really important during the exams to help with concentration during longer papers, so make sure you have plenty water. A little snack is a good idea too.
When you get your answer book, make sure to fill in your details correctly on the front cover and on any extra booklets you use.
The first thing to do when you look at the paper is to read the instructions carefully, your teacher will have gone through these many times with you. Mark all the questions you are going to do and right out a quick time plan for yourself.
If you feel you are becoming really anxious, focus on your breathing to bring a sense of calm. The ‘Box Breathing Technique’ is ideal for exam students and is proven to help with stress as well as improve concentration and focus. It is very easy to do even in the exam hall. Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds, and breathe out through your mouth for 4 seconds. Repeat a couple of times.
Focus on exactly what you are being asked in the exam paper, the most common feedback from examiners is that students give a lot of irrelevant information so keep glancing back at the question to keep yourself on task to target the marks. Highlight keywords in the questions, do a quick plan for your answer and glance at these as you develop the answer.
Use Blue or Black pens only! Most answer books are being scanned for correction online now so this will ensure that they can be read properly. Only use pencils and colours for diagrams.
· Stay in the exam hall as long as possible. Don’t be tempted to leave the minute you finish. Read back over your answers, use all the time you have.
After the Exams
· Try to avoid too much discussion after each paper, ‘post-mortems’ of the exams are rarely helpful and can add to stress levels, so once each exam is done, take a break, get some fresh air and exercise, then move on to preparing for the next one.
Go n-éirí libh ar fad, the very best of luck to each and every one of you!