Exam Tips

Research shows that students who ____________ perform better in exams and assessments

• nap frequently

• eat breakfast

• revise immediately beforehand

• wake up early

Answer explanation

Studies have shown that 'evidence suggests a positive association between habitual breakfast frequency and quality on school grades or achievement test scores'

(Adolphus et al., 2013)

An hour increase in sleep duration the night before an exam was associated with a __.__% increase in the odds ratio of correct answers

• 15.0%

• 2.5%

• 0.5%

• 50%

Answer explanation

This evidence is from a study on the effect of sleep duration on exam performance (Estevan et al., 2021)

To put this into perspective, if an hours extra sleep can increase your correct answers by 15%, a student who would usually achieve a B grade could potentially increase this to an A!

'The predicted correct answer rate was 52.3% for an all-nighter and 77.1% for a student who slept 8 h'

________ _____ helps to boost attention by 25%, improves cognition, reduces cortisol (stress hormone) production and increases oxygen delivery to the vital organs of the body (including the brain!)

• Being mindful

• Asking questions

• Drinking water

• Eating sugars

Answer explanation

Being adequately hydrated has a range of benefits on exam performance and handling stress.

Our bodies are made up of between 55% and 65% water, well over half the entire human body. It is essential for bodily processes such as thinking, remembering and regulating hormones - such as cortisol, the hormone which causes stress and anxiety.

Regularly revising and practicing in the lead up to an exam can...

• reduce anxiety and improve exam performance

• create new questions, making you more confused

• make anxiety and nerves worse, reducing exam performance

Answer explanation

Regular, effective revision in advance of an exam has been shown to 'reduce the level of test anxiety and improve the performance of students' (Iranagh et al., 2019)

For long exam questions, you can gain marks for the Quality of Written Communication (QWC).

Which option below IS NOT a criteria for quality of written communication?

• Legible text with accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)

• Use of a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and subject

• Organising information clearly, using specialist terminology

• Use of the entire lined area on the response section

Answer explanation

The key word here is 'quality' of written communication - not quantity.

Responses to long questions should be detailed and thorough, but should be concise - which means giving all the information required in as few words possible.

Strong answers will often use the whole lined area, but this is not a requirement.

Rate your response to the following statement:

'I can explain how self-care can improve exam performance'

• I am very confident at this

• I am okay at this

• I'm not very confident at this

• I cannot do this

Rate your response to this statement:

'I am able to use a wide range of revision techniques and memory strategies'

E.g: Mind-maps, flashcards, study groups, practice questions

Mnemonics, chunking, visual imagery, elaboration, rehearsing

• I am very confident at this

• I am okay at this

• I am not very confident at this

• I cannot do this

I can explain what not to do in an exam

(things that would reduce my chances of success)

• I am very confident at this

• I am okay at this

• I am not very confident at this

• I cannot do this