How to Manage the Exam Season: Guide for Students
- May 15
- 7 min read
With exam season fast approaching, you might feel that school is spiralling out of control and stress levels are ramping up. You want to revise, but it’s sometimes difficult to know how; maintaining the momentum to get tasks done can be tough and finding the balance between study and chill time can seem elusive. So, how can you learn to control exam season and not let it control you?
As someone who has been through this process again and again: SATs, GCSEs, A-Levels, English BA finals and postgraduate deadlines (the list keeps growing…) I know what it’s like to feel swamped as the exam season approaches, to have restless nights with your mind whirring, the last-minute nerves on exam day and the constant longing for the time when you’ll finally get your life back. But I also know the soaring feeling of success that comes with seeing hard work pay off and how it feels to have missed the mark first time, got back up and tried again until I got where I wanted to be. So, trust me, the end is in sight. It’s time to define the narrative of what you want your exam season to be.
Here are some tried-and-tested tips for making exam season manageable:
1. Work backwards and chunk big goals
Get your exam timetable out and make a calendar of where your exams fall. For each subject, identify your top priorities for revision. Realistically decide how much time you have available for independent study each day between now and the exams (being sure to block out some whole days and a small chunk of time each day to help you take breaks and unwind). Pencil in what subjects you’ll revise each day, for how long and what tasks you’ll do.
2. ‘Looking through notes’ is not the only (or best) type of revision
Be careful about falling into ‘looking through notes’ or ‘re-writing notes’. Whilst you should be using your notes as a valuable revision resource, looking through them is not the way to get the most out of them. It helps to actively transfer key knowledge onto cards or maps as this encourages you to select key material and helps you actively revisit it. You should always build in time to answer questions and do exam papers after reviewing notes to check you can apply your knowledge to the exam format.
3. Be precise when choosing revision tasks and keep things varied
Everyone works differently, but it’s advisable to try and choose a range of revision tasks each day to keep things fresh. These might include addressing knowledge gaps or revisiting topics you’re less confident with (review notes/revision guides/watch videos/answer short exam questions), transferring key notes into revisable material (flashcards/creating mind maps/bullet lists), make post-it notes of key facts or English Literature quotes that you can stick around your house to make revision fun (with your family’s permission!), completing open-book exams and timed mock exams. Try and get a few of these different types per day and you might like to cover multiple and contrasting subjects too.
4. Tune in to what you keep putting off
If you’re like me, you’ll have experienced putting off a particular task or topic because it seems too difficult or boring, you perhaps have no idea where to start and are maybe worried you won’t get anywhere with it and it’ll waste your time. Tune in to what this is for you and then face it. Put it as your number 1 task to get done and work out who or what may be able to help you with it. Making some progress with these areas, however small, will help you maintain positive mental health and avoid stress from constantly procrastinating.
5. Work out when is your best time to learn
What time of day are you most alert and ready to learn? Use this time for revision and purposely cover topics you find more difficult or have been putting off here, as you’ll be more resilient. Identify what aspects of your revision may be ‘lighter’ and do these tasks at times when you’re more likely to be tired or may struggle to focus.
6. Minimise distractions
During exam season, it’s best to turn off notifications on your phone and devices because as soon as you hear the ‘ping’ of a message, it’s going to break your focus. Flip things around so that you choose when you will look at your phone rather than seeping into scrolling and checking throughout the day. You might include this in breaks throughout the day or save it for one moment, perhaps when you’ve finished your study. If you’re studying at school, try to find a quietish place and surround yourself with study buddies and like-minded people. At home, explain to your family when you’ll be studying to avoid distractions.
7. Plan in breaks and rewards
You need to plan in regular breaks within your day to eat, drink, recharge away from screens and books, to spend time with others and do things you enjoy. It’s vital that at some point each day you have a longer break of chill time to do something totally different. This might be socialising, getting outside, playing sport, enjoying a hobby or some time to unwind. These breaks act as a release which will help you recharge and refocus for further study. So, even if you think you could plough on through, don’t skip your break. Also be disciplined: stick to the amount you agreed with yourself.
8. Be the teacher
Explaining your knowledge to someone and answering questions about ‘why’ something is the way it is can be a fantastic way to use your knowledge and to check you can apply it. Team up with a friend and teach each other different topics or find someone who isn’t an expert like a parent, guardian, sibling, family member or friend who can you practise with.
9. Have a positive mindset
Remember that performance in a subject is not fixed: we all have the potential to grow and progress. So even if things don’t go well one day, get up and try again the next. Work out where you need to spend extra revision time or where you need support. Try to focus on the tasks you’re doing rather than getting overwhelmed with the future.
10. Seek help
Everyone will have aspects of revision they feel less confident in or would like some feedback on. So, seek out people and resources which can provide this support.
11. Look after your body as much as your mind
Try to plan healthy meals and snacks to fuel yourself through exam season and remember to keep drinking water. Avoid too much sugar or caffeine. Remember to take time out to get outside. Find a sleep routine that works for you and don’t skimp on sleep: it’s hard to revise when you’re tired and even harder to do well in an exam without proper sleep.
12. Share your revision plan with someone else
It can be hard to keep yourself motivated throughout exam season so it can be helpful to share your revision goals and timeline with someone else so they can supportively check in with you and help you stay on track.
13. Regularly review and adapt
It’s unlikely that you’ll create the perfect study routine first time round. It can take a lot of trial and error to find what works for you. So regularly check in. What’s working? What isn’t? What could you try next? Maintaining flexibility while having a general plan is one of the best strategies for exam season. Having multiple options can help you tweak the plan if something throws things off one day. As long as it’s purposeful, go with it.
14. View GCSEs as an opportunity, not a chore
Even if you don’t plan to continue studying some of your subjects after school, remember that taking your GCSEs is an opportunity to secure decent grades that will keep your future options open. The work you’re putting in now is for you. It’s about your future and giving you the chance to follow your passion and try out what will work for you. So, no matter how tough it gets, remember, you’re doing this for you.
15. Make a bucket list for after exams
One way to manage your desire to be doing other things right now is to create a bucket list for all the things you’d like to be doing now but can’t do due to revision. That way, you’re promising yourself that you’ll get to do these things, but just not right now. Trust me: it’s worth the wait. Use the time now to get the best grades you can and the enjoyment over summer will be so much sweeter than if you don’t make the most of your revision time while you can.
I hope you’re now feeling set to tackle exam season. Remember: you’ve got this!
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