When you join my Accounting Exam Accelerator Programme you will learn everything there is to know about studying for your exams and how to increase your academic performance.
I like to think outside of the box though, and a lot can be said for trying new things, especially if you find yourself in a rut with your studying and don’t know how to progress forward.
You might not have considered trying non-academic tactics to increase your receptiveness to revision, as many people can overlook these believing they have no true relevance to success, but I would disagree.
I’ve devised a list of the best ways I believe you can boost your exam technique and improve your performance with both your studies and exams, including small changes you can make each day to techniques you can try at different points in your revision.
1. Be An Early Bird
We all know the saying ‘the early bird catches the worm’ and can brush it off as a cliche, but there’s definitely lots of truth behind the phrase.
Getting up early means you can truly make the most of the day, so start by using the extra hours awake to revise and learn as much as possible.
2. Brain Food
Snacking on certain foods during the day has been scientifically proven to aid concentration and memory.
Whether you opt for fish, nuts, dark chocolate, seeds, yoghurt, blueberries or another ‘brain food’, you’ll be keeping both your body and brain well-fueled with these nutritious foods.
3. Talk It Out
Swap your usual written study technique to one where you are speaking out loud, engaging multiple senses at once and helping your memory.
Stray away from reading and writing and choose to talk yourself through your notes, even if your neighbours will find it weird.
4. Preach and Teach
Teach someone else what you have learned and covered in your revision, regardless of if they’re a pro at the topic or have never heard of it before.
The best way to test if you fully understand something is to try and teach it to someone else, but don’t worry about preparing a whole lesson plan, just recall as much as you know without overcomplicating things.
5. Google It
Plenty of academics will try and steer you away from using Google and suggest that a traditional book study is best, but in the modern world it’s hard to stay away from the internet, so use it to your advantage.
Certain techniques can make your Google search even better, such as by using quotation marks around a specific term to better your chances of finding the exact result for your search.
6. Move Around
Keep your study space portable and make sure you can use it wherever you may be, including whilst on the go if need be.
Information retention has been proven to improve when you vary the places you study in, so try a new spot and see if you can remember more than usual after.
7. Sense Of Smell
Using scents is a great way to engage your sense of smell, one of the five senses we rarely associate with studying.
Try spraying an unfamiliar scent when revising or chew gum as you study, with your brain automatically associating the smell with the topic, allowing you to remember what you learnt at the time by acknowledging the same smell before you enter into the exam.
8. Let Your Creativity Shine
Everyone has a creative side and it can be a good idea to include it when studying for your accountancy exams, a highly textual and numerical topic that doesn’t tend to offer a lot of space for being artsy.
Whether you stick to simple drawings like diagrams or go for more complex, colourful options, your mind will create a visual memory that can be recalled in an exam.
9. Keep Hydrated
Being hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best, so drink plenty of water throughout the day.
A touch of lemon works wonders as the potassium found in raw lemon juice helps the brain and nerve cells, improves concentration, processing speed, memory and calms the mind.
10. Keep Listening
We all have personal tastes when it comes to music and genres, but research has previously shown that there is a correct type of music to listen to when studying.
To have a more productive study session and elevate your mood all in one, try listening to Mozart, with the ‘Mozart Effect’ known to improve mental performance.
11. Fonts Matter
Another aspect of studying that is far from obvious and definitely a personal choice, fonts can have an effect on your learning.
Times New Roman is supposedly the fastest font to read and should be used when writing your notes or reading to ensure a quick uptake of information.
12. Test Yourself
You can quickly test your knowledge of key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas with flashcards.
For an added source of revision, you can make your own by writing out the key information you need to know before using them as a testing device rather than simply buying ready-made options.
13. A Meditation A Day
Research says that meditation can help students stay focused when studying, so take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to practise breathing techniques or mindfulness.
Meditation is a great way to reduce stress both in a revision environment and outside of your exam when you get those last minute nerves and start to panic.
You can learn more about my top tips for staying grounded in my blog How To Deal With Stress When It Comes To Accountancy Exams.
14. Balanced Breakfast
Having a balanced diet is important everyday of your life, especially on exam day, so start the day properly with a balanced breakfast.
It’s also best to steer away from eating risky foods before you go into the exam, so maybe don’t have last night’s leftover super-hot curry.
15. Get Your Body Moving
Exercise your body and mind by having a brief walk before your exam starts, even if it’s only around the building.
This can also help calm your nerves as you are focusing on something other than the impending test.
16. Don’t Panic
The last thing you want to do is send yourself into a frenzy, so whilst it sounds easier than it is, avoid panicking.
If you see people outside of the exam panicking, don’t let yourself be swayed by their mood and try your best to stay away from them as their mood won’t be doing you any favours.
17. Ask Away
As daunting as they may seem, examiners are there for a reason – to help you should you need it.
If you’re stuck on a question, don’t be afraid to quietly speak to an examiner and see if they can make it clearer for you, and that way you won’t be wasting any crucial time overthinking.
18. Stay Positive
Another one that is easier to say than implement, staying positive can have a great impact on your exam results.
You don’t want to enter into the exam with a negative mood and only you know what will properly cheer you up so try that and see how you feel.