by Z. Blake

Created on: March 13, 2009

There are many students out there who are naturally intelligent but somehow always seem to receive average or poor results in tests. They just don't test well. Likewise, there are many students of average intelligence and ability who seem to always come up trumps in exams and receive high grades. Why is this? The truth of the matter is that people who prepare well for tests will always receive higher grades than those who rely just on natural ability. This means that the playing field is entirely even and those who work will succeed. You can use this knowledge to your advantage if you are prepared to put a bit of effort in and prepare yourself efficiently.

The first thing to keep in mind when preparing for an exam is the danger of procrastination. The golden rule as regards studying is do not put revision off until the last second. The key to doing well is to study throughout the year- starting from the very first day of term. You may not feel like your making progress at first but doing a little bit every day will really stand to your advantage on the day of the test. Remember that even if you've missed the party of the centaury, the funfair, the concert or whatever other event pops up in the run up to your exams these little disappointments will feel irrelevant when you look down at the paper and realize you actually know the answers. Putting off studying will only make you more nervous when the exam comes. Besides, look at it this way- when you ace your test you'll have a cause for celebration!
Once you have resolved to make a continuous effort at your studying the next step in preparing yourself for the exam is to ensure that you are studying correctly. There are many techniques you can use to do this. Here are just a few:
-ASK-

Ask what will be coming up in the exam or to clarify what the curriculum covers so you know what to give priority to. If you don't ask you won't receive so open the lines of communication and make the best of your most valuable study aid- your teacher.

-REVISION MATERIAL-

If you have been provided with revision material-this is your bible. Take it out and run through it as often as possible. Have a highlighter on the ready and pick out key elements. Learn these inside out. Consider using revision books or downloading plot summaries, key information etc. if you have a vast course to cover. This can give you the information in a condensed form and make it easier to remember. However, if you are aiming for a very high result then this will

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