How to Get That A*

So this is going to sound very familiar. Tired, sleepless eyes that have gone red by burning the midnight oil. Yet the struggle never seems to end. Yes, this is a night before your big exam.

We have all been here time and again, anxiously waiting for the night to end and wanting it to extend to two more days, simultaneously. Such nights are always accompanied by this 3 AM thought of how just one more day of preparation will make this night and the upcoming exam easier. 

Well, luckily, there are a few tips to gain the benefit of two nights in the remaining 12 hours before your big day! 

Calm yourself

Now, this may seem like a regular tip but let me explain how utterly important this is. Calming your brain may increase your knowledge. 

Our brain is like a sponge. It will soak everything and pour it out when at ease. If you are stressed, your performance will go down the drain. So, the most significant thing is to keep yourself calm. You can try out different meditation and breathing exercises. A 10 mins yoga can go a long way too. And before you know it, your brain is ready to recall all the knowledge, both major and minor details, that you may have read even years ago, sometimes! 

Take naps

I know this sounds ridiculous. But studies have proved how sleeping helps calm your brain and so, your brain is more accepting of new knowledge and the information gets stored in it. So don’t forget to reward yourself with little naps at intervals! 

Revision

Trust me, nothing compares to revision. Revise, revise, and revise. There’s no better way of retaining all that knowledge. Keep revisiting. Whenever you study a new topic, try to revise it within the same 24 hours. Your brain will be at its best and new information is most likely to get stored for good if reinforced shortly afterward. 

Reward system

Now if you’re somebody like me who is extremely lazy and needs loads and loads of convincing yourself to even open that book, this one is definitely for you. 

Set a goal of reading five pages and then taking a short break. You could take a nap in this break to enhance your learning capabilities thereby benefitting big time. This short break is extremely necessary to encourage yourself. 

Do not compare 

This is probably the best tip anyone can ever give you. Do not compare yourself to your friends and peers. They are their person at their own pace and you have your own. This comparison is not good for your mental health and performance. Everybody has different ways of studying. Every brain is different and everybody handles theirs according to its quirks. Learn to do what’s best for you without eyeing the pace of the friend sitting on the next desk. 

• Believe in yourself and you will succeed.