Methods You Can Use While Preparing for Your A-Level Exams

Methods You Can Use While Preparing for Your A-Level Exams

A-Level has long maintained its status as one of the leading preparation programs for university-level study, not only in the US but around the world. For this reason, A-Level exams and preparations for these exams are of great importance for every student studying within the scope of the program. The exam preparation strategies you apply in the weeks before the exams can help you raise your A grade to A*. However, in order to achieve the best possible results, you should not put pressure on yourself or overstress.

In the weeks before A-Level exams, many students panic, trying to cram as much information into their heads as possible, and over time, this can become a habit. However, this method can have the opposite effect of what you intended and can be harmful to you because, in this way, you may end up putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.

As of the last week of April, we have entered another spring-summer period for A-Level exams, and therefore, it is likely that you will be taking your A-Level exams soon. Perhaps the most important advice we can give you for your exams is to not panic and keep your cool. As we mentioned above, instead of panicking and trying to learn everything at the last minute, you can try to apply the strategies we will talk about in this article.

Browse Past Exams and Take Mock Exams

Reviewing previous exam papers and practicing with mock exams can be one of the most effective strategies for preparing when there's limited time before the exam day. By working through questions from past exams, you can familiarize yourself with the exam format and question structure. This will help you adjust your timing to complete the exam within the allocated time, understand how your answers are scored, analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and identify the areas that require more focus. Similarly, taking trial exams will offer you similar advantages.

Read Exam Reports Prepared by Examiners

This could be one of the most crucial pieces of advice we can offer. Every year, examination boards release a document known as the "Examiners' Report," crafted specifically for each course by the officials responsible for evaluating students' exam papers. In this document, examples of how students should approach questions and what they should avoid are shared. In terms of exam technique and strategy, these reports stand as the most valuable and significant resources we have.

Examiners responsible for grading students' exam papers thoroughly analyze each exam question. They determine which subjects and skills the students have mastered, identify areas of weakness in their course subjects, and point out areas for improvement. These reports also provide valuable insights into what students can anticipate in future exams, including trends and question patterns in Q&A and course topics, based on past exams.

Create a Summary

While you might prefer to write extensive lecture notes, jotting down every detail for any subject in any course can be challenging and demanding. Try to take brief notes and explanations about the topics covered in the lectures, and try to summarize the key points.

Specifically, using concept maps, spider diagrams, and bullet points on one or two pages can be a highly effective method for reviewing topics while preparing for your exams. It allows you to assess whether you have fully grasped the course materials. Additionally, developing essay plans for past exam questions can boost your confidence in your ability to answer questions posed in previous exams.

Enhance Your Memory

A technique to prepare for your exams is to devise your own abbreviations, aiding in remembering essential information. When your brain links information with something familiar and easily memorable, it becomes much simpler to retain that information. Alternatively, you can select a subject or concept you wish to learn and explain it to someone unfamiliar with the topic or concept, simplifying it for their understanding. This ensures that the concept or subject remains ingrained in your memory.

Don't Forget to Take a Break

After a 30-minute or 1-hour study, remember to take a 5- or 10-minute break. During this time, you can do stretching exercises, drink a glass of water, or rest your eyes. An article published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology stated that short breaks increase work performance and improve attention. According to the article, in a study involving college students from George Mason University, participants were given a task requiring sustained attention that included following maps of railroad lines on a screen, tracking, and planning train routes.

One group in the study was instructed not to take a break during a 45-minute task, while the other group was asked to take a 5-minute break halfway through the task and use this five-minute period as they wished. All students in the break group were found to perform much better than students who studied without breaks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Methods You Can Use While Preparing for Your A-Level Exams