This is a stressful and draining time of year as Hingham High School students are about to embark on their midyear exam journey this upcoming week. This upcoming week is going to be busy and tense. Are you struggling on where to even start? Here are some tips and tricks to make your exams go as smoothly as possible.
- Understand The Schedule / Make a Plan
The first thing you should do is understand your schedule and make a plan. Planners are a great way to keep organized as it is a visual collection of what you need to get done. You can write out your testing schedule and from that point on, you can begin your plan on what subjects you need to spend the most time on, and what topics you already have a better understanding of.
- Limit Distractions
Now that your plan is made, it is really important that you limit distractions in order for the studying you are about to partake in to be as beneficial as possible. There is no time to waste. Hingham High School Junior, Sadie Sheehan, states “Something I do before I start my studying is put my phone in another room so that it’s not a temptation and I can really focus. Out of sight, out of mind. It works!”
- Take Breaks in Between / Study in Intervals
Now that distractions are limited and studying begins, it is a good idea to take some breaks from time to time. First off, it is not very fun to cram for hours the night before your exam, so spread your studying out over the span of a few days. Hingham High School Junior Ella Norton says, “I study for 30 minutes with a 10 minute break in between, and the cycle continues.” Even just a few hours a day, broken up in small intervals can create such a difference in the outcome of your exam. Your brain comprehends the information more with small breaks in between compared to studying for hours straight due to the loss of concentration that can occur.
- Drink Water, Eat Right, Get Rest
It is crucial to take care of yourself the day before your exams. Make sure to eat a full and balanced breakfast before your exam so you are not hungry during the exam. Drinking water keeps you hydrated so you do not get headaches. Also, getting a full 8+ hours of sleep the night before the exam is the key to success so that you are motivated and productive as you make your way through all your tests. Not taking care of yourself leading up to your exams can be taxing on your body, so it is important that you do these things so that your body is satisfied.
- Try Your Best!
As stressful as it is, midterms will not define your future. The best thing you can do is try your best and not give up. If you do not know the answer to a question, move onto the next one and circle back to it later. Take deep breaths, and know that you are going to be great! It is imperative to keep a positive mindset.
