Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

Exams can be a really stressful time, especially if you want to do the best you can in them.

It can be really helpful to make a plan about what you want to cover. Think about what topics you feel you want to revise in each of the subjects you have an exam on, and then think about how much time you have for revision. 

Teachers should be able to give you some ideas about what things are good to go over. They might even be able to give you some past exam papers for you to have a practise with, to see if there are parts that you find hard. You could focus revision on anything that seems hard.

Different people also have different revision techniques. Some can take in a lot of information by reading over it again and again. Others find it helps to write lots of notes and make bullet points. Some people try and remember what they’ve read by saying it out loud. Everyone needs to work out what helps them remember best.

If there are any bits of what you’re revising that you don’t really understand it might be worth asking a teacher to explain it. It’s definitely a lot easier to remember information that you understand.

It’s also important to remember to take regular breaks, make sure you’re eating, and get enough sleep. It can be harder to concentrate if you don’t do these things.

The night before exams it can help to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep. Try and stay as calm as possible, as feeling panicked can make it harder to think properly. If you find yourself feeling stressed it can help to talk to someone else about those feelings, such as an adult in your life. You could also talk to a counsellor at ChildLine on 0800 1111 by using 1-2-1 chat.

You may also like to take a look at our Homework and revision page, as well BBC Radio 1 Revision Basics, for some other tips.

Remember, you can only do your best.

Good luck,
Sam