Exam Diary: How to squeeze every last drop of study goodness in the week before an exam

I cast my mind back to the early 2000's and how I spent my time in the 7 days leading up to an important exam.

May 11, 2023

With GCSEs only a week away, regardless of where you are in the world, it feels an appropriate time to take a close look at how your teen can use their time as efficiently as possible during the week leading up to an exam.

To do this I’m going to take you back to the early 2000’s, when I was at high school, and walk you through how I would use my precious study time in the last seven days before an exam.

So let’s crank up Brittany Spears and Blink182, and let the countdown begin.

Day 7

My desk is a state. Different books and stacks of paper here and there. Pens scattered about. Old food plates really need to go to the kitchen.

I’m in the very thick of exam preparation. Personal hygiene is taking a hit.

But exams are far enough way that there is still time for substantive study.

Sticking to my Exam Study Timetable, I’m making study notes about all of the key topics I think are likely to come up in the exam. My study notes aren’t beautiful or Instagram-worthy, but they work for me, and that’s what matters.

I’m also writing practice essays in preparation for my exams that have an essay writing component or are comprised entirely of essays, like English and History.

I don’t have it all figured out just yet. I’m still trying to get on top of the trickier topics.

I’m working my way through practice questions and practice problems, particularly for number-heavy subjects like Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

I’m taking a break every few hours by watching an episode (or several) of Friends.

I’m probably doing about 8 hours of study per day.

A fairly accurate depiction of my study desk circa 2003, sans the computer.

Day 6

More of the same.

I’m starting to hone in on the last few keys topics I need to make study notes for.

I start the day by writing a practice essay for English or History, then take a break, and then move on to study notes and practice questions in the afternoon.

My bum is starting to get sore. So much sitting.

Day 5

I’m really on the countdown now. 5 days. Can’t wait for this to be over. Absoliutely sick of studying.

I start the day by trying to complete a past exam under exam conditions (i.e. door closed and timer set). It goes okay, but there are some parts I struggled with and I realise I need to go over those topics again.

Need a break, brain hurts.

Back to study notes. Finishing off the last few topics. I have almost finished going over everything I think will potentially come up in the exam.

Using past exam papers to study is one of my all time favourite study techniques.

Day 4

Start the day with a couple of practice essays. Feel like I could answer almost any question about those topics now. I’m going to mould what I know to make sure I answer the specific essay questions being asked.

For the rest of the day I’m finishing my study notes. I have finished revising every important topic I think could come up in the exam.

Day 3

Time to start re-writing my study notes. No, not from scratch, but I am going to re-write the really important bits again. This time, in short-hand.

The handwriting is so bad it’s really not legible, but it doesn’t need to be. I’m never going to read them again; it’s the process of going over them again that helps.

The process of re-writing the crucial bits of my study notes will help to imprint the information in my mind. This is going to be really important for my recall when I’m in the exam.

Day 2

In the morning it’s time to prepare my exam strategy. I make sure I’m thinking about the exam itself; how long is the exam? How many questions? What type of questions? How long should I spend on each question or section?

This will help to make sure I answer the exam paper as efficiently and effectively as possible, and crucially, that I don’t run out of time. You can’t get any marks for a blank answer.

Then it’s time to head back to re-writing my study notes; I want to make sure my recall is as good as possible on exam day, and I want to finish my notes so that I still have time to look at another past exam.

My study notes were not Insta-worthy, but they were effective because they worked for me.

Day before the exam

Thank god this is almost over I am so SICK of studying. All I want is to be freeeeeee.

Mustering my last ounce of will power and discipline, it’s time to finish re-writing my study notes.

It’s done. No more stuffing information into my brain. If it’s not there now it’s too late.

Break time.

And finally, time for one more past exam attempt to really polish everything I have covered and to get me into exam-mode.

Dinner time. No more study. It’s too late.

Time for Friends and to give my brain some breathing space so it’s not suffocating tomorrow.

Exam Day

Brain is absolutely bursting with information, and yet at the same time I feel like I don’t know anything at all. Where has it all gone?!!

It’s okay. It’s in there somewhere. Once the exam starts and I have read through the exam paper I know I will settle into exam-mode.

My tummy feels weird. Time for a nervous poo.

Tempted to study more but won’t. It’s too late. Better to keep what I do know fresh in my mind.

Check the clock; need to leave plenty of time to get to school; don’t want to rush.

Make sure I have everything I need for the exam; calculator for Maths, Physics and Chemistry, a few pens for every subject, drink bottle, a watch to keep track of time.

Nothing more to do now. Deep breath and let’s go.

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Well that took me back. I can see me now — high school Clare sitting at her desk, listening to Napster (remember Napster?!) and talking to friends on the landline.

And even though it’s 20 years ago since I was 15, I still vividly remember those weeks leading up to exams. How study became all-consuming and everything else in the world disappeared from view for a few weeks. Your world becomes very, very small.

I realise though that if you’re reading this, your teen might actually not be being studious. They might be suffering major motivation-itis, and you might be at your wits end trying to help them with their studying.

If that’s the case, then it’s not realistic for your teen to study like a straight-A student tomorrow, but they absolutely can take on board some of the study habits I have outlined above, and work towards progress.

How’s your teen going at the moment? Are they in the depths of exam study? Are they going okay or do they have a huge mountain to climb? Let’s talk it out in the comments.

Otherwise you can get in touch with me directly — email clare@cramlab.org or Facebook Messenger. Helping out one-on-one is what I like doing best.

If your teen is about to sit exams I wish them all the very best.

Thanks so much for reading.

Clare

P.S. EXAM STUDY POSTS: Check out this page for all of my articles on exam study collated on the one page for ease of access.

P.P.S. FREE EXAM TEMPLATES: If you haven’t already, head to cramlab.org/free-downloads to download my free templates for making an Exam Study Timetable and Subject Maps for your teen’s exam study.