Study smart, not hard

Study smart, not hardHow to boost exam performance When it comes to examinations many students do not perform up to scratch because of mistakes made due to a simple lack of awareness. Once these mistakes are rectified, the results are always positive. One of the biggest mistakes made by students is failure to deal with exam stress or anxiety. Stress and anxiety works as a shortcut to failure as they hinder the brain's performance levels. One of the best ways to deal with anxiety and stress is to work out regularly. Working out improves memory and thinking skills and prevents examination errors by reducing stress and anxiety. Plus, you pass while looking good so it's a win-win. Sleeping for at least seven hours is believed to have a positive effect on memory and cognition, making it easier to remember answers during the exam.

Other measures that can be taken are eating healthily and drinking sufficient water. This is beneficial in stress reduction, improves concentration levels and memory, prevents headaches and promotes sleep. Paying attention in class also plays a crucial role in examination performance. This is due to the fact that often a teacher will provide information which one will not necessarily obtain from a textbook. This information can mean the difference between passing and failing and thus it is essential that you remain present and punctual for class and always pay attention.

Figuring out your best studying method can also prevent unnecessary failure. Some people read, some write down notes and all others need to do is listen in class. It is also important that you find out whether or not you are comfortable studying with music as it can be a comforting medium for some and a distraction for others. Studying beforehand is extremely important as you do not limit yourself to the amount of information you can take into an exam due to a shortage of studying time. Studying a few notes everyday makes it a lot easier to study in the future for an exam as the brain has a tendency to store information and release it when reminded of it.

Lastly and probably most importantly, do not over-study. Over-studying tends to make one live a drab and antisocial life which can lead to unhappiness. Take out weekends to focus on you, loosen up and have fun. This can be taking part in sports, hanging out with friends or using art to express yourself, basically anything that makes you happy.



*Titus Shitaatala is a 19-year-old studying Architecture first year at the University of Science and Technology. He enjoys designing, drawing, writing poetry, reading, playing soccer and engaging in social media