Top tips for passing any exam

There are no magic formulas for passing any exam with flying colours. Even so, when it's exam time or when it's time to take a test, we've all looked for tricks to make it easier. Techniques that we haven't thought of and that help us to memorise and retain more information.  

We've decided to save you some time by listing our top tips for preparing for your next exam. 

Physics tutor, Jithin Thazhe Puthiyottil has some advice to help GCSE Physics students ace their exam.

• Slow is better: if you feel like you forget everything after studying for an exam, you probably aren't spending the time it takes. Start earlier and get organised. If you study and go over the topic several times, it is sure to stay in your head.
• Find the common thread: if you start studying early, this is the first thing you should do. Patiently read everything you have to study and get something in common from the whole syllabus. Look for the common points and make sense of what you are studying. Try to understand before memorising.
• Change environments: studying in the same place all the time can be tiring. If you have created your workspace, it is good to keep it, however it can also be beneficial to keep changing.
• Record yourself: this is one of the most embarrassing but most effective techniques. Some people record themselves on audio and others on video. Then they review the recordings and not only go over the lesson, but remembering our own voice can help us a lot in exams. 

• Mock exam: test yourself before you take the exam. You don't have to take a test that is exactly the same as the one you will be given. Try to include the things that you are worst at, but also try to be realistic. A good idea is to write down the questions you think you will get in the exam. Then, as you study and then answer them before you start studying. That way you will know your starting point.
• Use paper and pen: write by hand, make diagrams, draw pictures... visual memory is very important when studying. Don't just read things or understand them. Write them down as many times as necessary and do it in a clear way. Try to create outlines that are clean and that you can review at a glance.

Prepare for an exam with private tuition

One of the most common options when preparing for an exam is to attend some kind of special classes. This is usually done especially for special exams such as language tests or competitive examinations.

But there are students for whom an ordinary exam can be crucial. Some students put everything at stake in an exam that for the rest is a mere formality and decide to prepare for it with a tutor. You can also apply the study techniques for passing that we have explained above.

Whatever the type of exam they want to pass, there are two ways to prepare for an exam with private tuition:

Private tutors

If you are clear about which subject you want to pass, the best thing to do is to hire a tutor. This is the most common option for those who are not good at a particular subject or who want to improve their marks in a specific subject.

A private tutor can offer the same materials as a tuition centre but with much more dedication. Whether you want to work long term or on a one-off basis, it is the best option to solve a problem at its root.

It is precisely the time that a tutor dedicates exclusively to a student that gives the best results. Even if you don't have the same resources as a tuition centre, a private tutor is a great way to learn.

There are people who hire private tutors to prepare for exams. People who do nothing more than hire a tutor for a specific moment. It is possible to have a few classes before an exam and it can be effective.

This occasional work is something that tuition centres don't usually offer and that you can only find with private tutors. But the possibilities offered by tutors are much wider.

A tutor can give you a much more personalised and effective follow-up. They consolidate knowledge much more and you will not only have results in the short term, but also in the long term. It is a safe bet to learn and not just to pass.

Ace your exams

Jenny Pitt 1st lesson free (1)10100

Subject-specific techniques

In addition to all this, you have to take into account the subject you are taking the exam in. Passing a maths exam is not the same as passing a history exam. Each has its own way of studying.

Subjects that are based on memorising require a series of exercises to construct a story that is understandable, analysable and that you can retain in some way. On the other hand, there are more practical subjects where you will have to do exercises over and over again.

All this is something that would have to be analysed separately. So whatever you study, it is important that you have a professional at your side. One who can pass on knowledge, but who can also give you the tools to study.