THE WEEK BEFORE THE EXAM

Okay, so there's only one more week and then it's the exam!  Where did those 12 weeks go?!

And now you're probably thinking: Have I studied hard enough?  Do I remember all those grammar rules and that huge collection of vocab and expressions we covered?

Whatever your answer is, remember this:

DON'T PANIC!

I know, easy to say, not so easy to do.  But seriously, with one week to go, just take it a day at a time.  Work out a schedule.  Plan when you will study and for how long.  This final week is not for going out to the pub with friends or cranking up that copy of Skyrim: Special Edition which you just bought for your Xbox.  By working out a plan you become focused.  Put your mobile away during these times, because once you say "I'm just gonna check this one message", that's it, your mind has wandered and you're no longer thinking about English.

PRIORITISE!

Work out which areas you are good at, and which areas you need to improve.  If you're doing well in listening, don't waste your time trying to improve even more.  It's easier to increase your score from 55%-60% than it is from 85%-90%.  Review the exercises in the book and texts you did during the last 3 months and see where you went wrong.  These are the things you need to know.  If you had difficulty with prepositions or collocation, go back and learn them.

TIMING!

Do some practice tests to make sure you have enough time to complete the exam tasks.  One of the worst things that can happen to you in an exam is running out of time, losing points simply because you didn't answer a question.

RELAX!

On the night before the test, try not to study too much - or don't study at all.  You need this time to allow you and your brain a chance to let everything you've been studying settle down.  When people study the night before they often get all the information mixed up, and it confuses them even more.  Chill out.  Relax with a good movie.  Go for a leisurely stroll along the beach.  And go to bed early to ensure you get a good night's sleep!

However, if there are times when you feel a bit stressed, stop what you're doing and go for a quick walk.  Get out of the house (by yourself!) and wander around the block and get some sun on your face.  After 15-20 minutes, head back inside and start again.  The mini break will do you the world of good :)