Revision without stress - by Abduallah Hadi

To be honest with you, I couldn't care less if I pass the final exams or not. I always do my best to chill out and not to let tension and stress overwhelm me as the time of exams approaches. The method I usually follow to do so, is to repeat these philosophical words of wisdom such as; everything will come to an end, death is inevitable, so relax, you will not get anything but your fate, and so on.

In order to be relaxed, there are some preparations that need to be considered. First of all, you need to break down and simplify the subject you will revise into small parts. This will really give you a boost towards being a more confident and relaxed candidate. Secondly, make a plan that consists of the following;

place: where you are going study

tools: what you are going to use (pens, highlighters, dividers, etc.)

time: when you will do it

subject: what you are going study and in what order, for example for maths, first read the daily notes, then solve the book exercises, after that test yourself using the previous module's answers.

Thirdly, make sure before starting to revise that you have your brain switched on, and that can be achieved by imbibing natural drinks, like an orange juice or a banana milkshake. Finally, try to vary the methods you follow to study, writing, repeating, oral memorising, or even linking, using heuristic techniques.

The practical tips mentioned above will help you to avoid stress and feeling depressed. However, sometimes you cannot avoid it, so you should deal with it: many students just cannot find a way through to get rid of the stress that climbs on their shoulders as the exams approach. Well, here are some things that could wipe out the tension on your way towards success. One major piece of advice I would highly recommend is to play some kind of music whilst studying, just try and you will see the difference. Most importantly, you should get enough sleep before start revising. What is more, choosing the ideal room to study will be a great help to be even more focused. Last but not least, be optimistic, be happy, it is just an exam, not the end of the world!