Korowa Anglican Girls' School

VCE exam survival tips

25 October 2009

As students across the state embark on their VCE exams this week, the pressure can often make it hard to keep things in perspective.

But a bit of relaxation, perspective and preparation can make all the difference, says Korowa's Director of Studies and Learning Mrs Grace Kinch.

"Not all stress is bad, some stress can be good in that it helps you to succeed and gives you motivation and drive, however the key is to keep it balanced," she explained.

Students should be alert for recognising the signs of stress in themselves before they can begin dealing with it.

Signs of stress vary among individuals, but can include a change in sleeping patterns (too much or not enough), headaches, feeling irritated or feeling like thoughts are going around in your head with no focus.

Once students have identified how they respond to stress then they can begin to work out how to reduce it. Here are some suggestions that might help:

• Identify healthy relaxation exercises, eg: meditation, running, walking, other sports, listening to music, watching a movie, etc.
• Ensure you have a healthy balanced diet. While it's tempting to reach for fast food, it is important to ensure you are getting enough nutrients and drinking enough water (eight glasses a day). Fruit and vegetables provide lots of vitamins B and C which research has shown aids in memory recall.
• Maintain a regular number of hours sleep at night, eg: 8 hours. Getting some exercise should enhance your ability to sleep if you are having problems with sleeping.
• Plan and organise yourself for the exams in advance. Try to avoid last minute cramming. Check that you have the right dates and times for all exams. Make sure you have the right materials that you need for each exam.
• Frame important information Research at the International Accelerated Learning Conference in 1998 showed framing work can increase test scores. Simply by putting a frame around information, your brain focuses within the frame. If there is no frame, your focus is anywhere. If you are a more visual learner, you can draw frames around your pages in class to help you concentrate and raise your understanding of what's in the frame.
• Talk about your information When you say information out loud it is reinforced in your brain. When you say information out loud, it comes out of your mouth and back in through your ears - going into your long-term memory. Talk about your study notes and what you are learning with a friend or even to yourself out loud. You'll be amazed at how the information sticks. Teaching someone about your subject is also a useful strategy.
• Think positively! Believe in your ability to do a good job. Focus on what you can do rather than what you can't do. Negative thinking will increase your stress levels.
• Talk it over with someone. This may help to relieve some of the tension you are feeling. It may be a parent, sibling or friend.

 

After your exams:

• Give yourself a healthy treat or reward!
• Take time to relax.
• Try to avoid negative thoughts or regrets.
• Review your stress management techniques.
• Review your study techniques.
• Celebrate your achievement!

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