TOP EXAM TIPS - from the Tassomai team

Exam season is now upon us, so to help you to do your best we’ve asked the Tassomai team for their top tips for exams – including what to do before, during and after each exam…

What's your top tip for exams?

B.U.G. the questions - Ugur

Box the command word, Underline key words or information in the question, Glance back over your answer

Look at the mark scheme 

Try this when you’re doing practice exams, and get a feel for how they work. When you're in the real exam, look at the marks available and structure your answers to make sure there are enough clear "mark-winning" statements to earn the number of points available.

If your paper contains higher weighted questions such as essay style questions, give yourself enough time to answer these to the best of your ability, don't spend too long on the one point questions. Skip a question you get stuck on and come back at the end with fresh eyes!

Read the question - Dan

So many marks are lost by students who rush-read through their exams and give the right answer but to the wrong question. Read all the questions three times, it’s so easy to mis-read something.

For English exams, read all extracts slowly and carefully once before doing anything. Just read them and take in the extract. Then, read them again with the question in mind. This will really help you to focus on which parts of the text relate to the question, but you'll have the confidence of having read it through once already.

Use past papers

Practice with past exam questions and other sample questions, as well as timed past papers. That way, you know you can manage your time efficiently.

Eat before - Zoe

Don’t let anything take your mind off the exam you’re sitting, like being hungry, or being in a hurry to get there. Plan your day in advance, like you would for any other important occasion. Sleep well the night before, it’ll really help to keep you focused and ready.

On your way to the exam, try to remain as calm as possible - you've already done as much preparation as you can so just go and express it.

What’s your top tip on keeping positive during an exam, especially if it's not going great?

Start easy

Always start by reading all of the questions through and then doing the 'easy' topics first to build up your self-esteem.

Take a deep breath and count to five - Murray

Remember that you can score points, even in tough questions, by stating a couple of relevant facts that you remember from your revision.

You don't have to score every mark or even answer every question to get a great grade - there's room for a handful of errors in every paper and you can still walk away with a top mark.

Just stop

If you feel yourself getting frustrated or upset in the exam, just stop. Put down your equipment, close your eyes and take a couple of slow, deep breaths.

Stress is as much a physical issue as it is mental, and by slowing your breathing down and taking a brief pause, you can help your mind to refocus and settle. Also, if a question is giving you real difficulty, move on and come back to it if you have time!

Move on and come back - Neil & Georgia

Skip the questions you struggle with and answer the easy ones first. Once you have gone through all the questions you can come back and solve the hard ones.

What’s your top tip to relax between exams?

Get away from crowds, conversations about the exams and screens

Get outside, go for a walk, do something that involves moving your gaze from close distance (reading/working/phones) to far distance - this changes your mindset, relaxes your eyes and prevents you from getting headaches and stress. If you have time for a bit of physical exercise, even better.

Sport, music or art - Henry

Find a hobby that gets you away from your revision space. Something that uses a completely different part of your brain. Unwind with a book or your favourite film.

Make time for yourself where you are not working and plan it into your revision timetable - we all need down time. Even though it feels like the only thing you should be doing is revising or working for the next exam, you can burn out if you don't take rest.

SLEEP! - Ana

Somehow during exam season it's hard to be well rested with all the stress - I find sleeping right after you finish an exam feels guilt free and you wake up well rested ready to start revising again!

What one piece of advice would you give to your younger self before your first GCSE exam?

“Your GCSE results are important at the time, but they decline in significance as you move through life. So do not think that they are make or break” – Mark

“You got this!” – Penelope

“Don't cram too much in just before the exam, it only causes anxiety. Instead, pace yourself and set up a time table steadily revising and revisiting material especially those weaker topics” – Sarah

“All you can do is your best” – Nick

Final thoughts…

“Give yourself time to rest between exams” – Penelope

“Keep practising little and often” – Sarah

“More exam preparation leads to an increase in confidence and so reduces stress” – Andy

“Don't cram, small bits of revision every day is the way to go” – Nick

“Do your Tassomai!” – Murray

Best of luck in your exams, all the best from all the Tassomai team and please let us know how you get on once you get your results!

Last week we looked at Top Revision Tips from our experts, including revision techniques, organising your revision and how to mix it up.