Most of us get anxious when we hear the word “exams.” But some students breeze through them with confidence. What secrets are they keeping?
It’s all in the technique. Below, we share five evidence-backed exam preparation strategies—complete with actionable tips and internal links to related Genius Premium Tuition resources—to help you study smarter, manage stress, and perform at your best.
We are going to share some of those techniques today, but before we get started, there is an important disclaimer that we need to make. In fact, two disclaimers:
- You’ve probably heard of these techniques before, and in some cases, more than once.
- These techniques only work if you use them. Knowing them is nice; using them is what makes them work.
Now that we have cleared that up let’s get into it.
5 Proven Strategies for Exam Success
1. Have a Plan
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Exams rarely arrive by surprise. The truth is that exams are not a surprise and should never catch anyone off-guard. You have either been informed well in advance or are part of a school community with a very predictable exams schedule.
Barring major disturbances to the academic calendar, you can predict with 99% accuracy when the Grade 12 Final Exams are going to be, regardless of what grade you are in. This is something most students don’t take advantage of, and then they get caught off guard by exams. Knowing exactly when exams are, allows you to plan for them; plan early and plan well.
How to create a plan:
- Map out your exam dates and syllabus in a calendar or planner.
- Break each subject into topics and assign study blocks in the weeks before exams.
- Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) for each session.
- Build in regular review days to consolidate older material.
For more on building daily systems and habits, see So you’re starting high school then?—it’s not just for Grade 8s!
2. Execute Your Plan
A plan only works if you follow it. We shouldn’t be listing this as a technique, but after decades of tutoring and assisting students with exams, we have learnt that there is a difference between having a plan and executing that plan. We often draw up plans, schedules and to-do lists, then life happens, and we don’t execute. Plan early, plan well, and most importantly, execute the plan. Do this early on in the year because it will allow you to make all the necessary adjustments in order to ensure that the plan is working and working well.
Procrastination and “life” can derail your best intentions, so apply these execution hacks:
- Time-blocking: Reserve fixed slots (e.g., 4–6 pm) for uninterrupted study.
- The Pomodoro Technique: Study 25 minutes, rest 5 minutes. After four cycles, take a longer break.
- Accountability: Share your schedule with a tutor, friend, or parent who will check in.
- Digital tools: Use apps like Google Calendar or Toggl to track sessions.
If you prefer digital learning, our guide on What’s the appeal to online learning? shows how virtual lessons can support your schedule.
3. Manage Your Mindset
When it comes to the exam, one of the most important tools you have is your mindset. As you spend time preparing for exams, one of the key things you should also be doing is managing your mindset. Intentionally manage your mindset towards exams (and life in general) by applying a few principles. Change your self-talk because the way you talk to yourself and about yourself is a reflection of your mindset.
Use positive self-talk to cultivate a positive mindset. In addition to changing your self-talk, change your language. Avoid using phrases that “affirm” negative aspects of your life. Create habits that support the mindset you want. These can include habits related to how you adjust and regain focus when you feel yourself drift off – a gentle reminder to stay focused on the task at hand. They can also include habits related to how you manage your time, learning processes, as well as happiness. Your attitude is one of the most powerful exam tools.
Cultivate a positive, focused mindset with these steps:
- Positive self-talk: Replace “I’ll never remember this” with “I’m improving every day.”
- Reframe anxiety as excitement: Physiologically, anxiety and excitement feel similar—use that energy to boost performance.
- Sleep hygiene: Aim for 7–9 hours nightly and follow consistent sleep routines. Learn more about sleep’s role in learning in our “Tools for better sleep” article.
- Mindfulness & breaks: Short meditation or breathing exercises can reset your focus in minutes.
4. Familiarise Yourself with the Exam
Knowing what the exam looks like removes the other ‘surprise’ factor. You are able to relax in the exam room because it feels like you’ve seen this paper before. And for most subjects, the order and structure of the questions don’t change. This allows you to add a crucial aspect to your plan – the exam itself. Knowing the structure of the paper allows you to plan out your exam session, what are the standard or special instructions regarding the paper, what is the structure of the paper in terms of sections and questions, which questions you are going to answer first, and how much time you are going to spend on each section. Get to know the paper.
Knowing the exam format removes the “unknown” factor:
- Review past papers and examiner reports to understand question styles and mark schemes.
- Identify question order and time allotments for each section so you can pace yourself.
- Simulate exam conditions: Sit timed mock tests in a quiet space without notes.
- Highlight command words (e.g., “compare”, “evaluate”, “define”) and practise responding precisely to each.
For subject-specific exam structure, see our “SAT Information for IEB Students” guide and adapt those techniques to your curriculum.
5. Monitor Your Progress
Knowing what you know is important, but knowing what you don’t know is crucial. Monitoring your progress is the easiest way to keep track of these two aspects of learning. You can tick off what you know and note what you don’t know so you can have a clear understanding of what you still need to do to prepare for your exams. It also allows you to effectively make the adjustments we mentioned when we talked about plans.
Effective exam prep balances what you know with what you still need to learn:
- Create a revision tracker: Tick off topics you’ve mastered; flag weak areas for additional review.
- Self-testing: Use flashcards, quizzes, or teach-back methods to check retention.
- Weekly reflections: At week’s end, analyse performance trends and adjust your plan accordingly.
Understanding your academic performance metrics can help—check out our “APS explained” article for insights into point-based evaluation systems.
Next Steps
Remember that exams are all about you showing us what you have learned, so the most important thing to do in preparation for exams is to actually learn. You cannot show off skills you have not acquired, and it’s the same with exams. You cannot show how much you haven’t learned if you do not learn something. So adjust your attitude about exams – they are not simply tasks that old people make you do at the end of the year because they are bored. It is an opportunity for you to show how much you have learned – they are for you and about you.
By having a clear plan, executing it diligently, managing your mindset, mastering the exam format, and tracking your progress, you’ll reduce anxiety and improve your marks.
Does this sound daunting? Need a tutor to walk with you every step of the way? If you would like expert support, Genius Tutors can help. Explore our Personalised Tutoring Services.
Get in touch with one of our specialist tutors today.
Let’s make this exam season your best yet!
