When it to exams, it’s understandable that many students feel a bit overwhelmed. Especially if you are studying for your finals, the pressure can be intimidating. After all, what if you’ve done something wrong and no one knows? How can you make sure you don’t mess up?
The good news is that exam season doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little preparation and a few planning strategies, you can prepare, study, and ace your exams.
Study diligently, take practice exams, and get plenty of sleep. Seems like common sense, right? But let’s face it, most of us do the exact opposite. 75% of college students admit that they make at least one major mistake during exams or final assessments despite their best intentions. Don’t let yourself be one of them.
Many people spend countless hours studying for exams and final assessments. While smart strategic studying can certainly help you reach your goals, it can be easy to become too focused on the process and miss important elements.
Here Are the Six List Common Mistakes that People Make During the Exam and Final Assessment
With so many distractions in today’s society and technology, it’s incredibly easy to forget about all the things that should be done before a final exam. Here are some common exam-related mistakes you need to avoid.
- Not Reviewing Enough
Many students believe that studying the night before the exam is enough. In reality, studying less can lead to more confusion and more mistakes. Avoid cramming the night before the exam, and instead, give enough time to go over the content and become familiar with the exam subject.
- Studying Too Much
Nothing can prepare you more than actually taking an exam. However, some students study until they get sick, exhausted, or depressed. Instead of studying until you have a headache or brain fog, study smarter. Focus on revising only the most important information the night before, and get the rest done a few days before the exam. If still in doubt, attempt one or two practice papers to gain confidence.
- Not Reading the Directions
It is very important to read the directions for the exam. Students who don’t notice or pay attention to the directions often end up losing points or failing the exam.
- Neglecting to review previously answered questions
Reading questions before an exam is important, but the most important deciding factor for how well you’ll do on a test is how much you review beforehand. If you’re still in the habit of reading the actual test, then you’ll likely be able to recall information from previous exams. However, if you’re used to skimming the test for answers, you’ll find yourself unable to remember much of the information that you might have been able to access if you had read the paper.
- Not understanding the purpose of the exam
When it comes time to take your final exam, you may be tempted to just wing it and hope for the best. It’s tempting to think that the professor just wants you to pass and that it’s no big deal. But exams are actually an important gauge of how you’ve done in the course. By understanding what the exam is assessing, you can make the most of your time, ensuring you score high.
- Rushing your exam
The last thing you want to do is rush through your exams or final assessment. Rushing through an exam and not having enough time to complete all questions, check your answers, or proofread your work is not good to help you ace the tests. Knowing how to pace yourself and NEVER rushing your exam is the secret to success.