Understanding the exam you will be taking is vital to your success and will help form your studying strategy.
Prepare, prepare, prepare
Preparation is the key – the old adage of ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ holds very true in exams. Make sure you have everything you are going to need prepared the night before. This means having your admission permit, your proof of ID, your pens, calculator, sweets, trigger smell etc…
Nerves are normal
It is normal to feel nervous before an exam…. Some exam nerves are good, they keep your mind focused. However some exam nerves are not so helpful.
To help with this, in the run up to an exam, each day spend some time sitting in a quiet place and breathe deeply. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you do this, press together your thumb and forefinger. This becomes an ‘anchor’. When you feel the panic in the exam, simply breathe deeply and squeeze your thumb and forefinger together again…your body will anchor the feelings of calm to that action…
Cramming doesn’t work…
Don’t be tempted to stay up the night before cramming… it doesn’t work (remember short term and long-term memory). It is much more beneficial to get a good sleep and turn up fresh… This will give your mind more benefit than a few last-minute cramming sessions and a gallon of caffeine.
Power of visualisation
Visualising success can also help… yes, it sounds like one of those pseudo-scientific self-help techniques, but it does work… imagine different scenarios vividly… some where you smash it out of the park and others where it doesn’t go your way… how do you deal with each?
Need extra study support for your CII exams? Check out Redmill Advance CPD accredited CII and CISI courses which can be accessed 24-7 on multiple devices.
Need help with your study methods? Click here to download our free study guide to exam success.
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