AS with most things in life, when it comes to exam success a little forward planning can work wonders. However hard you've worked and however great your knowledge of your subjects, failure to pay attention to exam logistics could cost you marks.
Imagine, for example, how you would feel if you arrived late for an exam. It would almost certainly put you off your stride and you could end up being flustered and fail to do yourself justice on the paper. Worse still - latecomers may be refused admission to the exam.
Cut down on frayed nerves by ensuring that you arrive well ahead of time. It's a good idea to check the timetable and pencil in the times of each of your exams in your personal timetable - both appear in this edition of E&L. Pin up the timetable in a prominent place at home.
In order to avoid being late it's vital that you either have a good alarm clock or make sure that someone calls you in good time in the mornings. Allow yourself time for a healthy and sustaining breakfast - a bowl of cereal and brown bread, for example. Hunger pangs during the exams are a distraction and a lack of food results in diminished energy levels and lack of concentration. Black coffee and crisps won't keep you going.
Make sure that you know the exact location of the exam centre. Work out how long it will take you to get to the centre for both morning and afternoon exams. These may differ from your normal school starting times and you will need to make allowances for traffic which will vary depending on the time of the day.
Decide well in advance on what you're going to wear for the exams. You don't want to be involved in a last-minute scramble for clothes. Plan to wear comfortable clothes. Dressing in layers is a good idea - you can peel off if the temperature in the exam hall rises. Do bring something warm though - feeling cold can be a distraction.
If you don't normally wear a watch, it's a good idea to borrow one for the exams. It helps you keep track of the time you're spending on each question.
Check out and gather together in advance all the equipment you will need. This will include pencils and pens - duplicates of these are recommended - rulers, rubbers, correction fluid. a calculator and mathematical instruments.
It's forbidden to borrow equipment from other students during the exams and you will certainly want to avoid any last-minute hassle.
Remember too that you won't be allowed to bring school bags or books into the exams.
At this stage it's wise to draw up a final revision plan which takes into account the order in which you're sitting your exams. If, for example, you have four days between your last two subjects you can use that time to revise for the last papers. When revising it's advisable to avoid covering new ground in the run-up to the exams.
IT'S vital that students are familiar with the exam papers, their layouts and the types of questions that will be asked. If you don't have copies of previous exams, you should get your hands on them immediately. If you haven't already done so, time yourself on sample questions. If you haven't attempted many practice papers or questions and you're worried about completing an exam in time, it's a good idea to work your way through some questions with a family member timing you.
If you think you're going to be a bit edgy during the exams, you could try bringing in some sweets with you. Sucking on sweets helps to relieve tension, experts say. However, do make sure that the sweets are not wrapped in papers which rustle and disturb the other students.
