Coping with end of year exams

Tips on how to get the most out of revision

With the end of the school year coming up, that also means the dreaded end of year exams are just around the corner too. Here at nimbl, we understand this period of exams can be an anxiety-inducing time, but we believe your hard work, well thought out preparation and practice will all lead to the amazing grades you’re looking for.

So, to help you get started with your exam revision we’ve pulled together some tips on how to cope with the end of year exams and not let the stress get to you.

Make time to Eat

Ensuring you have the right fuel for your efforts when studying throughout the day will have a massive impact on how you respond to the stress that comes with preparing for your exams.

We’re not talking about 10 cans of Redbull or Monster. No instead try to have a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as healthy snacks throughout the day. Avoid the crash that comes with energy drinks and chocolate, and give yourself the right fuel to help you study all day.

Create a schedule

The number of exams you need to study for may be daunting without a plan so scheduling your day will help you know what you need to be doing, when. Taking some of the pressure off yourself.

Creating revision timetable that includes time to eat and rest will help you tackle difficult subjects and those which have a high priority so you have every exam covered. You can also focus your hardest subjects on a time of day when you’re most alert to help improve your chance of retaining what you revise!

Switch off

This is probably the most important piece of advice for those revising for exams in 2018. Switching off devices, apps or notifications which you know might cause you to be distracted is going to help you concentrate on the task at hand.

Put time into your schedule to give yourself time on your devices but that’s it. You’ll thank us later.

Know how you learn best

Do you learn best seeing, hearing or doing?

Knowing this will help you when you sit down to go over a subject. Mind maps or flash cards might work for some but we each have our own ways of learning so figuring out what works best for you will help you when you come to revising.

Have a break

Now some people might suggest revising 7 hours a day over Easter but we think this might be a bit extreme for young people much less adults. The brain like any machine, muscle or tool needs rest to function properly.

Taking a break occasionally will only serve to help your brain recover from your revision and give you time to digest and retain the knowledge rather than burning out.

Remember the saying; “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”?

Make sure you have a break even if it’s a small one (but still make plenty of time for revision).

Put your revision to the test

One of the best ways to revise is to test yourself. Previous year’s exam papers are usually available on the internet and these are a great way to see how much of your revision stuck.

Trying a test or two will give you an idea of the style of the questions and how you should be answering it. Timing how long you take will also help you when you come to the real thing so you can leave enough time to check your answers at the end!


The team here at nimbl hope this helps with your exam preparation and wish you lots of luck!

Follow our tips, relax and enjoy your exams – the hard work will pay off.

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