What my teacher would say: 5 things to do during an examination

What you're about to read won't surprise you at all. You heard it somewhere. You would recall what your teachers told you. What should you do during the day of the examination? You had a long face, as it was the end of the academic year. No need to worry, as you haven't got your (undergraduate) degree. And you'll be on your second year next season.

There won't be any scientific basis, as the likes of Albert Einstein might not prompt you to take heed (of what you're about to read). After all, these people led unconventional lives. They often thought outside of the box. And their appearance would make others react differently. You're an average Joe (or plain Jane), and you don't have anything to be ashamed of. You only want to manage your coursework, while making the most out of your teenage years. The examination will bring out the worst in you, though. You flirted with a failing mark in a few occasions, and you don't want to repeat the experience next year.

Here are five things to do during the day of the examination:

The early bird catches the worm. Your coursemate turned into a wisecrack after you said these wise words. Let's not lose sight of the whole picture, he pointed out. The early worm would get eaten. No need to argue about it, but you could save your words for the coming weekend. You should have known after you missed the deadline of your last assignment. Procrastination won't benefit you at all. Don't study on the night before the examination. (Let's put in another way. You shouldn't study on the night before the test. The brain won't manage to recall all the information unless you're Einstein's distant kin.) Study a little, and it would be preferable during the idle moments. Sleep early. If you can find the time to exercise, then take a stroll. (If you can run for half an hour, then it will be better.) And don't forget breakfast. You'll be in a good mood. You're also calm. You arrive early. You sense a passing mark (at least).

Don't forget to read the question again. One of the usual mistakes that students make during the examination is not to read the question properly. They can't be blamed at all, as they must do it on a limited time. But reading the question again won't require several minutes. It will be better to understand it. Otherwise, you might regret it.

You must trust your instincts. Professor Marius Usher of Tel Aviv University's School of Psychological Sciences conducted a study a few years ago. He wanted to determine how instinct and intellect would figure into the decision-making process. Based on instinct alone, participants made the right call up to ninety percent of the time. What would this result mean to students? Better make your first guess than leave a question unanswered. It's all about your gut feeling, so don't spend too much time thinking about it.

You have a strategy, so you better stick to it. You didn't come unprepared, did you? You have a plan, and you must keep it in mind. You might change your mind on a few things, but don't abandon it.

You prepare for the examination, so you must feel good about it. Otherwise, you'll leave it a chance. Not good at all.