How to prepare for final exams in a week

Top tips to prepare for an exam in a week

We are all pass through an examination in one way or the other. An examination can be formal and informal depending on the situation that warrants the need for an examination. In simple terms, an examination is a test, an assessment of an examinee in respect to the needed knowledge, skill, fitness etc for a specific purpose. It is a set of questions that expose examinee’s knowledge on various topics or fields.
In Education, exams are a great way to assess what the students have learned with regards to particular subjects. Exams will show what part of the lesson each student seems to have taken the most interest in and has remembered. In fact, an examination is one principal method of knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a student.
Through examination, teachers will be able to understand where more attention in class may be needed when teaching a particular subject.
In Interviews, an examination is a criterion for screening applicant. Job examination may come in different forms depending on the type of job an applicant are been screened for. Notwithstanding, not every Job position requires examination. Job examination can come in the form of physical fitness, aptitude test, oral test etc…. The main purpose of this examination is to evaluate an applicant based on the job position they are applying for.
Now, in a situation where you only have one week to study for an examination and it is a must that you pass the examination, what can you do or how do you prepare.
Although, studying a week before the examination may show how unserious minded person you are, still I dare not point fingers of unseriousness because our lives are full of an unplanned phenomenon. Preparing to study a week before an important examination may arise due to;

• Conflicting schedules
• Impromptu examination
• Sickness
• Time factors

 
Whichever reasons yours may be, this article will guide you on how to study and pass an examination in a week. Yes! you can study and pass an examination in just a week of preparation. But… Of course, there is a but. Though I said with this guide, you will be able to study and pass an examination, it’s not always easy especially for students who have more than 10 subjects to study in a week. The workload is cumbersome but you may still find this guide useful. Students will 3 to 5 subjects and job seekers will benefit more from this article.
Now listen, getting ready to successfully study and pass any exam efficiently comes from learning how to study smarter, not harder. And the study style that works for Jon might not work for Sam.
 
Here are the top 13 study tips that will tell you how to prepare and pass any examinations in one week
Beat Anxiety…

The thoughts of writing an exam in a week bring much anxiety and distress. It is the norm. Even the most prepared fellow falls a victim of anxiety too. The first step towards preparation is to acknowledge that you have fears and anxiety. Acknowledging anxiety ease tension and opens the mind to positive energy.

1. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Then, ask yourself, “How would I cope if that happened?” Now answer those questions.
2. Take a break from actively working on solving a problem and allow your mind to keep processing the problem in the background.
3. Take a bath.
4. Forgive yourself for not foreseeing a problem that occurred.
5. Think about what’s going right in your life. Thinking about the positive doesn’t always work when you’re anxious, but it can do if anxiety has caused your thinking to become lopsided and you’re not seeing the big picture

 
Know the examination or test format:
If you really want to study within a week and pass an exam, you should find out by any means the examination format. That is, you should find out what the test will be like. No examiner will set a question that you’re not familiar with and it is expected that you are also familiar with the test format. For example, the question format of WAEC O level examination are Multiple choice questions known as OBJ and Theory.
Other test formats such as IELTS, test your language skills in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
There are five main types of exams you should be familiar with.

• Essay exams
• Multiple choice exams
• Open-book and take-home exams
• Problem or case-based exams
• Oral exams

 
Improve memory your power (Develop Crystal-Fluid intelligence)
Every few numbers of human have a photogenic memory. The human memory tends to develop rather progressively and much faster with practical experience. It’s nearly impossible to develop memory in a short period, but you can improve your skill at remembering by correcting thoughts and habits through the adoption of crystal-fluid intelligence. You see, improvement does not depend on how much knowledge you have up there but how you use it.
Crystal-fluid intelligence is a term I coined after much research on Student Study Behavioural Pattern. It is the ability to solve a problem or answer questions based on personal developed knowledge. While Crystallized intelligence relies on previous knowledge and experience, Fluid intelligence involves being able to think and reason abstractly and solve problems.
Now when you combined them together (Crystal -Fluid) you will be able to create a piece of new information based on your previous knowledge. It’s like creating a new user experience for a website based on user behaviour.
How do you develop Crystal-Fluid intelligence? You can by making it a habit of paying close attention to the study material you wish to remember. Make sure you have a clear image of the face, name, date, or facts you are learning. In other words, create a picture. Disagree to agree and improve fact and statement by associating and making reference to materials you are familiar with.
Associating your experience with the information from your study material create a long term memory. Remember a picture is worth a thousand words. You must also make a habit to actively trigger the memory progressive retention process by jotting down thoughts and connecting the dots.
Getting a good amount of sleep and eating proper meals are also essential factors for successful
memorizing. While learning, try to obtain as many different kinds of impressions as possible. Do whatever works for you. Some people memorize pictures better, while others memorize sounds better.
Putting together impressions from all the sense organs makes remembering easier as we rely on both
sight and hearing.
 
Organise your study place but don’t stick to one.
Dispose of any irrelevant objects you have on your table. Put aside all of your social networks, mobile apps, and computer games during your study sessions. If you can’t resist the urge to check notifications or reply to messages, search for an app that will block all sources of distractions for a certain period.
There are some extensions and mobile apps that may help. For example, StayFocusd and WasteNoTime allow you to block particular websites or set limitations on them. You can spend 30 minutes on Facebook, but then it will be locked for the next 2 hours. Go ahead and devote all your attention to the test!
Make sure you have enough fresh air coming in and lighting at the appropriate place.
Before getting started, find what works for you and make your study space as comfortable as possible. For example, some people work better in complete silence, while others prefer having some background music.
 
Get past questions:
One of the easiest ways to prepare for an examination is through past questions. Not only does past examination saves time, but it also helps you to understand how questions are set and how to answer the questions.
 
Here’s an important trick you might not know:
Don’t stick to one location. When you change your environment often during your study session, you force your brain to recollect the same information in different places. It’ll be easier to recall the information during the exam if you learned it in a similar environment. That’s why many students prefer preparing for a test in a classroom or library. Moreover, you may learn
better with a friend or as part of a team. This increases your chances of getting a high score.
 
Set a goal
The next step is to set a realistic goal and determine the amount of time you are going to spend studying. Be true to yourself. Consider different factors like family time, domestic work, visitation etc. Studying to pass an exam should not disorganise your life. So put important things into consideration while you set your goals. You can set a goal in a way that won’t affect your relationship with others.
Write down all of the steps in a planner. Each time you plan your study session, set a goal to understand the material thoroughly enough that you could explain it clearly to anyone.
 
Exam strategy.
If the allotted time is good, try to scan the whole test first to get an idea of what concepts you will need. And as a bonus, you may find that the answers to some questions are actually given within other questions. As you’re scanning, divide the whole test into sections for time management. Try to figure out which parts will take the most or least time, and organize your time accordingly.
Never try to save time by skipping the instructions, as they sometimes contain hints. Besides, not reading the exam instructions can lead to you wasting your time—what if the instructions say “answer one of the following questions” and you waste your time by answering all of them.
Remember that there are two main ways you can approach your test: either by completing your test
section by section or by giving answers to the questions you know first and then coming back to the ones you are not certain of. By tackling your test in a second way, you will have more time to recall the necessary information.
Always review your answers before you turn in your test to make sure you haven’t forgotten any skipped
questions. However, while looking through your work, don’t second-guess yourself too much—correct the answer only if the mistake is obvious.
 
Sources
Examinationsuip.co.uk/blog/the-purpose-of-exams
https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Examination
https://ivypanda.com/blog/13-tips-on-how-to-pass-any-exam-in-a-week/
https://www.verywellmind.com/fluid-intelligence-vs-crystallized-intelligence-2795004
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/201503/50-strategies-beat-anxiety