Top tips for acing your NCEA exams

Cramming is not the answer for getting top marks. Photo / Thinkstock

Exam time is here for thousands of students across the country. Before the summer fun starts, now is the time do get that last minute revision done.

Here are six top tips to make the most out of the study time you have left:

1. Work SMART, not hard

href="http://www.techrepublic.com/article/use-smart-goals-to-launch-management-by-objectives-plan/], but can be applied to exam revision" target="_blank">SMART, the mnemonic acronym for Specific Measurable Adjustable Realistic and Time-related, has been around since the early 1980s. It is often used in sports psychology and for business projects

Specific: Don't be overwhelmed by the volume of information you think you need to learn. Try to narrow down what needs to be revised, and prioritise.

Measurable: Ticking off what you have done, and deciding what is left to do is important to keeping on top of your studies. Top tip - When compiling a checklist, write a few tasks that you have already completed at the top of the list. Being able to tick tasks off may give you a mental boost.

Adjustable: There are only 24-hours in a day, and obstacles can get in the way. It is impossible to learn a year's worth of work in a few days, so focus on what you can do.

Realistic: Don't give up. If you haven't kept up with revision throughout the year, there is time... focus on what you can realistically achieve in a short time.

Timed: Shorter bursts of study may be more productive than staring at pages for hours. This tip sheet

2. Procrastinate now, panic later

There are many distractions around. I remember my room never being tidier than when I was "studying." Try to turn off your phone, and avoid visiting social media sites in your allocated study time. It can help to set up a quiet space, with all the stationery you need.

3. Highlighters

Colour-code your work according to what you are least confident about, to what you are sure you know. Focus on what you are least sure of first.

4. Stay positive

It's easy to feel overwhelmed or uninterested in what you're studying, but positive self-talk will be far more motivating.

5. Reward yourself

Recognising success helps maintain motivation. Factor in treats and rewards that you can look forward to, to help keep you on track.

6. Flashcards

The night before your exam, jot down a few essential facts - just the things you are most concerned about - onto a postcard. Look at it just before the exam, and if those questions come up, answer them first. Obviously you won't be able to take the flashcard into the exam.

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