How to stay focused in exams

As exam season is coming up for many of my secondary school students in the coming months, and my university students will begin their exams in a matter of weeks, today’s blog post will talk about focus during exams. It is one of the hardest things about exams that most people struggle with. As you get more advanced in your education, your exams will get longer and can end up being upwards of three hours, which is an incredibly challenging amount of time to focus under stressful exam conditions. This blog post will share some essay tips I have heard, but also some I use to help myself focus and ‘enter the zone’.

1. Preparation

This does not mean preparation in the way you think - I am not talking about revision or last-minute cramming. It is  incredibly important to prepare your body and mind for what it is you are about to do. This means getting a good night’s sleep, eating a healthy and filling breakfast, drinking water and having some by you in the exam, going to the toilet before the exam begins and doing all you can to destress yourself (this may include some short meditation in the mornings or simply things like listening to your favourite music on the way to school). There is nothing that makes it harder to focus than an empty stomach, being tired or a full bladder, so physically preparing yourself to sit in one place for three hours and be comfortable is important. 

2. Build up to it

One of the most challenging aspects of it is the sheer time itself, as most people do not focus for three hours while revising, as it is not really a healthy habit to do regularly as well as simply being incredibly difficult. When revising, it is important to take breaks, move around as this boosts productivity. However, in an exam setting, you cannot do this. It may be helpful in the days coming up to your exam to try working for longer times - as long as you make sure to still take breaks - just to build up the amount of time you can focus for. Timed past papers will really help with this, as you also figure out the timing of questions and how quickly or slowly you can progress through the paper. 

3. Keep moving (as much as you can)

Obviously, you cannot get up and walk around during an exam, but this does not mean you can’t keep the blood flowing. Fidgeting with things will help keep the blood flowing in your hands and stretching your fingers a bit will stop them from cramping too easily if your exam is heavily writing-based. Focus on your posture too - actively try and sit up straight which will stop your back from hurting. However, make sure you are not being disruptive as this is not only a distraction for everyone else taking the exam, but also may get you in some trouble with the invigilators. If you have time for a toilet break, the short walk to and from the toilet was always something I enjoyed as a break and to get my legs moving again, albeit for a very short time. 

Exams are undoubtedly stressful and incredibly difficult, both mentally but also physically. The key is preparation, as having a good night's sleep, eating well and drinking water are simple things you can do to make your exam that much easier to do. Remember, although exams are coming up, your mental health and wellbeing is still your top priority, so make sure to take care of it and check in with yourself.