GETTING AND GIVING THE MOST DURING EXAM WEEK

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The next weeks are exam weeks on most campuses, and you want to be giving as good as you can, or you wouldn’t be following these posts. You are shifting your mindset from class/assignment/study mindset to exam mindset. You are like the runner who is lined up at the start line after weeks of conditioning, building strength and stamina.

So what can get in your way of giving your best performance? What are the challenges you might face over the next few weeks?

Building a Structure That Works For You

You no longer have the structure of class time, lab time, and study time. Rebuilding a structure that fits the next couple of weeks takes away the stress of having to decide exactly what to do each hour of the day.

There are some commitments that are immovable (by you). Grab your calendar and mark in

  • exam times,
  • travel times,
  • debriefing times,
  • transition times,
  • appointments that you must keep, and 
  • any deadlines that are still outstanding.

Now for the structure that you have more control over.

  • Getting up at the same time every morning gives you a strong start to each day, whether that day has exams or not.
  • Getting dressed and groomed gets your mind in your professional student set.
  • While you may fudge your bedtime a bit, set a time you absolutely will be in bed by.

Next, pencil in maintenance, as that is easy to get lost, shorted, or disrupted during exam week.

  • That’s meals, grooming, exercise, sleep, chores, and spiritual or mindful grounding.
  • Here you may modify your usual practice by eating fast prep, minimizing chores, and keeping mindfulness/spiritual grounding to a maintenance level.
  • While it’s easy to skip exercise completely and short yourself on sleep, you won’t write your best exams if you do.
  • Allow time for positive social connection. It helps if these are time constrained at the outset, and don’t involve loss of sleep or hangovers. 

Finally, sketch the prep time you will need for each exam and for meeting any outstanding deadlines. If you are short on revision time, adjust by

  • adapting shorter meal times,
  • cutting one or two exercise times down, but not out,
  • skipping laundry, 
  • building in five-minute meditations as part of study breaks, or
  • reviewing an extra half-hour after your usual evening revision time. (Caution: If this defers your bedtime, give yourself unwinding and destressing time before bed.)

CHECK DAILY!!

Check your school email and exam timetables daily–exams can have their times and venues changed up to the last minute.

Special Challenge: Two or Three Exams in One Day

Here think triathlon. Once you’re out of the pool, you need to change into biking gear, pedal to win, and have enough leg muscle reserve to run: transition is key. With more than one exam in a day, plan ahead to transition. Allow five minutes to mentally debrief, endorse for completing the exam, put it out of your mind, hydrate and possibly eat a light snack, then walk briskly to the next exam venue, mentally focussing on your review and finger presses.

Special Challenge: Life Happens

You may get sick. There may be a family emergency. You may be in an accident. 

  • Your physical and mental health is a priority. Outline what you will do if an exam-threatening event happens so that you are not making important decisions when you have a high fever.
  • Know your school’s policy regarding sickness and emergencies during exams, and know it before you are in such a situation.
  • Follow that policy as best you can without threatening your health.
  • Get in touch with your instructor and TA immediately.
  • Deal with the course outfall as soon as you can when you recover, and stay in touch with your instructor as you do so.

Special Challenge: One Exam Didn’t Go Well

Again, the triathlon metaphor. Maybe you fell off your bike–it’s the total time that counts so you get back on, finish with a lowered bike score, and have your positive mindset for the run. Similarly, it’s the total marks for the total year that count for your GPA, not any one exam.

Special Challenge: Staying the Course

You may well have moments where exam week is difficult and less than pleasant, or you are afraid that your goals are threatened. Here any methods for strength and resilience that you have learned can be called on, even if you don’t feel like it. Or especially if you don’t feel like it. Three that I often recommend are

  • Have your goals written out and visible. Each exam brings you close–even if you later have to compensate for a grade or adjust your goal. Have safe alternatives to go to in your mind.
  • Keep in mind your reward for finishing the term. Have a visual within eyesight in your room.
  • Be a positive coach: Endorse for every positive effort, thought, and action.

Writing the Exam

Here I’ve focussed on the structure and some special challenges that impact exam performance, rather than on techniques to maximize exam writing performance. If you are focussed on the actual writing of exams, you may wish to review the Midterm Checklist here https://www.stevevogel.net/midterm-checklist/  All of those exam writing tips apply to writing finals.

The End Is In Sight

This isn’t your first trip around the exam block–You can do this!

Congratulations on getting through the term to the final race! Let me know how it goes! [email protected] 

The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS PLEASE DIAL 911.