Leading up to the HSC many students find themselves overwhelmed and stressed out; a completely normal reaction! You may study for 7 hours a day in the lead up to the final exams and still have those common pre-test jitters! This doesnât mean youâre unprepared; it means you care!
Your brain loves your predictable daily pattern! It is so important to make sure that you are sticking to your regular routine the night before your exam, eating dinner with your family at a normal time, looking over your notes lightly (and not cramming any last-minute questions!), and even if it means spending half an hour on your phone or reading a book before you go to sleep, keep up the routine!
If you try to cram at the last minute, stay up all night, donât eat a nutritional breakfast, your body will be exhausted the next day, and your mind wonât be able to concentrate properly on the questions in front of you!
Think of your brain like a racing car; you wouldnât put it in a race without petrol! A balanced breakfast; a banana, smoothie, or yogurt bowl sets you up to be alert and ready for your day ahead! If you skip this step, you might get a case of brain fog, which you especially wouldnât want on the morning of such an important day.
The morning of your exams; arrive at the testing centre a little bit earlier; so you have time to go over the brief summary notes that you have with you, take some time to settle your nerves, have some water, and strut into the exam hall in a cool and composed manner!
Remember, you arenât alone in the stress and build up to these exams! Everyone is in the same boat; so donât disadvantage yourself by doing something that your body isnât used to!
Sarah Constantinidis