QUICK STEPS TO MANAGING PRE EXAM CRISIS

The exam or test time table is out and you have barely few weeks to go. So now you are thinking what am I going to do to cover up, how would I manage time.. So many things to do

You need to cover up those remaining text

You need to take care of yourself so you don’t fall sick

You still need to be in touch with the world around you.

Any other that is not in this list..

I want to offer you tips on how to manage yourself as that exam approaches, I will discuss under the following headings.

TIME MANAGEMENT:

The most important and easy to waste asset you have is time, so guard it jealously. In managing time ii advice you do the following

Draw out a timetable for reading : Arrange for more slots for areas you are yet to cover or grey areas of your course work. Also include siesta and nap times (P.S nap not sleeps). Cut back on how much and how long you spend online chatting, surfing except for research purpose, cut back on visiting so many friends, on unnecessary watching of TV. Maximize every free moment, and use the time for chores to review and recite to yourself whatever you have read, you can also have a friend come over join you in the work while you also discuss together areas covered. 

Don’t Miss Classes: experience has shown that when examinations are close most students tend to miss classes, this attitude is bad. I discovered that this is the period lecturers are more likely to relate with you whatever they intend to ask, smart students also know that teachers at this time give away questions in a subtle way, you just have to be attentive and crafty.

SELF MANAGEMENT

The next most important aspect that needs attention is yourself, yep you! Because of the need to do so much, you may neglect yourself through starvation, lack of hygiene, lack of rest etc.

Here is what you can do

Eat Good food: trash those junk foods, go “fruitified”, Bananas are quite good, they help nervous system coordination, some fruits are antioxidant and clear up your head. Fruits are great since they don’t need cooking, just wash and eat. Kill two birds with one stone by taking out time to cook good food, I mean real food. You can invite friends over to discuss on topics while the cooking is going on.

Rest: lack of rest automatically sets the brain on crash mode. If you don’t rest, the brain is not refreshed; it is starved of much nutrient. Think of it this way, to drive your car from Lagos to Benin nonstop, the engine will overheat and develop faults. A little rest is needed. Rest also returns the brain to default mode and helps its assimilation rate. Ret also boost bodily health. So rest especially at night and include naps of say 30 minutes during the day in your day planner or time table.

Reduce the following

Visits by you and to you. You can do this by reading in the library or places you are less likely to meet friends.

Social media and online chats

Gaming

Drinking and smoking as well as drugs

Noise

Spending

Stress, you body does much work already by just reading, don’t stretch yourself by adding more work, job.

Keep you thought Life alive: think but don’t be anxious or fretful, think on positive things not negatives, make up your mind to think high of yourself. Try hard to cut yourself from addictions, drugs, pornography, sex, theft etc anything that would distract you. Your mind should be clear to think straight.

BOOK WORK

Now we are down to the main thing, the book itself. When you are close to exam, how, what, where, when and why should you read?

What – read your lecture notes, your text books, and research materials? Take time to as also look over previous assignment, the ones you submitted and otherwise, lecturers like setting students up. Look for past questions also as they give you insight into the kinds of question to expect plus how it may be crafted where it may likely come from as well as time factor.

Where – library would be good or may secluded place. The general rule of thumb is places where you are less likely to bump with classmates, friends and family. I strongly discourage reading at home, they would be tendency to be relaxed, and slack in reading, you can also get unexpected visitors too. But generally read where you are very comfortable.

When – anytime but most preferably during the day so you can rest at night. Remember your siesta and nap. Evening classes may also help, but anytime you feel sleepy or week kindly return to your room.

How: I recommend two very simple reading styles for crash reading especially as exams draw closer. I will do a proper write up later (so check back soon)

• Group study: this is efficient because you can cover grounds faster; it also gives you the advantage of hearing from many sources and summarizing to draw out your own. Group study gives you opportunity to ask questions as well. A group of 5-7 is ok, more than this and you got a crowd.

• Cramming: yeah, am so dead serious. If you can’t get it, cram it. Cramming is effective for temporary storing info and retrieving it when needed. You can cram your way to the top.

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