• Take time to plan: Prepare a study plan for the day, keeping in mind your weekly goal/s - make sure it is balanced with other important things such as work, fun, entertainment and social activities.
• Prioritise: Be realistic about what days/times you can study and how long for. Too much can make you feel overwhelmed.
• Study with peers/friends: Two heads (or more) are sometimes better than one for certain tasks. Studying with peers can be good to challenge, discuss and also keep you motivated.
• Look after yourself and take breaks when you need to: Self-care doesn’t need to be complicated! Try an activity in between studying to refresh your mind. Eat things to fuel your body. Stay active after studying. Take regular breaks.
• Stay focused: Think about what time of day you have the most energy and plan to study then. Some people focus better at night when the house is quiet, while others may have mental energy in the morning.
• Be prepared: Knowing what works for you can make your studying more enjoyable. Find your groove - write things down to absorb the information. Use practice exam results to see where to focus on. Look over previous exam papers.
• The day before the exam: Revise your notes but avoid ‘cramming’. Familiarise yourself with where your exam is, what time it is, and what you’ll need to bring. Do something fun or relaxing to recharge your mind, and definitely try to get a good night’s sleep (don’t stay up until the early hours of the morning studying – as tempting as it may be!).
• Day of the exam: Keep your usual routine. Stay positive and believe in yourself and the preparation you’ve done. Plan something fun to do afterwards so that you have something to look forward to.
• Check out Dealing with exam results stress | Action Mental Health for more help and information.

Published: Jun 2, 2026