The government have announced that exams will again be cancelled this summer for those doing A levels and GSCE’s. Many people are worried that this means schools will not be going back before the summer and although they have not promised they will, this doesn’t mean anything either way. The exams have been cancelled because even if the pupils do go back in February, there has been so much disruption over the last 12 months it would not really be fair to put students through exams. Also, it would be extremely hard to carry out exams in the proper way whilst ensuring social distancing and bubbles etc.

As last year, the students will be graded on the lit course work and possibly mock exams if they have been done. For some pupils this will be a sign of relive but for others that maybe struggles with some of the course work but have since worked really hard or who excel in exams, this many not be the best news.

Anybody that is worried about their exams should talk to their teacher. They will be able to advise them on what they need to do to improve and what the process for grading will be.

Many students are anxiously awaiting their GCSE or A Level results this month. This year has been like no other and students all over the country have missed out on taking their exams due to lock down. This means that teachers and lecturers have had to grade pupils based on the work they have done so far. For many students who struggle in exam situations this news has been very welcomed, but for others who maybe didn’t have the best start to the year, they may find themselves missing out.

This last six months may have been very difficult for some students, especially if they find working from home hard or don’t have a great home life. They may of struggled to get all the coursework done that they needed to and may of found it hard to manage their time effectively. There will be a lot of catching up required when students do return but for those who were in their final year, its now straight into the real world of job hunting.

The grades the students obtain may be needed to help them progress into further education or possibly into an apprenticeship or fulltime job. Universities have set grades that they expect students to achieve to be allowed on to a course and if these are not met this month, then the students will have to go through what is known as clearing.

For some people the thought of sitting exams fills them with dread and prevents them from achieving their academical potential as they avoid studying subjects that require a final exam assessment. There are however steps that can be taken to minimise this anxiety and make the prospect of sitting an exam less stressful overall.

Being well prepared for the exam by having revised appropriately can help to boost confidence as can being part of a study group where revision is shared by students undertaking the same course.

On the day of the exam it is vital to have had sufficient sleep the night before even though this may seem difficult. By using relaxation techniques and meditation this is achievable. Eating a healthy but light meal is a good idea and keeping hydrated with water or juice is also advisable.

Breathing exercises have been shown to relieve anxiety symptoms and instructions for how to perform them correctly can be found online. Arriving ten minutes early to the exam location is advisable as nothing builds tension like rushing in at the last minute but avoid talking to others who may be showing anxiety instead play a game on your phone or read a magazine.

Remember that most people feel nervous before tests and reward yourself with a treat when the exam is over.

Whether you are taking examinations at the end of your secondary education or at a higher level you will have been encouraged to revise the curriculum you have been studying to further your chances of getting good grades but it is difficult to know where to begin and what strategies are most effective.

Most teachers and tutors will be able to guide you on the essential knowledge that you will need to have and also on frequently asked questions that may be posed but this should only be considered as a guide as they will not have prior knowledge themselves.

The best approach is to write down the key points of the area you are studying as a reminder. This will usually be enough to enable you to recall the detail if needed. Mnemonics are useful to help remember important phrases or lists and have been used throughout education as an effective learning tool. Some students find that sticky notes placed around the house can be a good strategy when it comes to recalling facts as it almost becomes a subliminal way of learning.

Working with another person can be a helpful way to revise especially if you are both sitting the same exams as you can test each other on facts whilst also revising content yourself.

The start of the year is often a stressful time for students who will be completing their A-levels or GCSE’s in May and June. With only a short time left before the exams start across the country, many students are trying to cram in revision as well as carry on with their lessons.
Undertaking revision has been proven to help improve grades and give pupils confidence when they head in to an exam, but often many people get overly worried and find revision too much.
When thinking about revision it is important to plan it out and come up with a timetable that also allows for downtime when you can put down the books and do something you enjoy.
Creating a timetable of what days and times you are going to do revision and then splitting it down further in to the subjects you are going to revise on which days can help you start with a clear mind.
Often schools, colleges and universities also try and focus the classes more on revision during the run up to these exams.
If you find that you are struggling then working with a friend can make revision less daunting and help you both practise what you need to.