Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Explore all the options
• Method 2 of 4: Protect Your Health and Deal With Stress
• Method 3 of 4: Preparing for the exam
• Method 4 of 4: Working on Concentration
• Tips

Competitive exams can be daunting, but if you use smart strategies to prepare for them, the process can be managed much better.In order to be fully prepared by the time of the competitive exam, buy or search the network for materials to prepare for the tasks that you have to complete, take a trial test to identify your shortcomings and make a schedule and schedule for your study. In general, general tips for memorizing, resting, and staying healthy will also help you prepare for the exam.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Explore all the options

1. 1 Sign up for a one-to-one course. For example, there are a number of educational centers offering courses to prepare for the exam. The great thing about these courses is that some students are helped by the sense of control that the classical learning environment creates. Classes can be of different duration, so you can choose the format that is most convenient for you. To apply, you need to go online and select the website of the course you want to take, provide your address and dates that are convenient for you to attend classes in your area.
   • Most of the courses involve doing hands-on work, from which you can see your progress and mark problem areas. In some other preparatory courses, you will be offered similar means of tracking your own progress.
   • These classes cost money, but they also include the cost of the training materials you will need.
   • To get the best grades, complete all of the course homework.
   • If you live in the provinces, you may need to travel to the city for classes. Alternatively, you can take the distance learning courses offered by many educational centers. Also try to find tutors who teach classes via Skype.
2. 2 Sign up for an online exam preparation program. There are many sites, some of them are free, others are paid, where you can register and prepare for the desired exam. For example, for the USE, there are sites for preparing for the USE with videos, text lessons, practical tasks that look like a real exam, and games that help you study and prevent distractions.
3. 3 Buy study materials and study on your own. For example, there are different preparation guides for the exam, you can buy the one that you need more, and the same situation with many other exams. So, for the exam, there are the following preparation materials: the most important books are preparation guides, they are intended for everyone who wants to get more points, regardless of skill level and strengths / weaknesses; subject textbooks will help you focus on one specific area of ​​the exam, for example, in Russian, or mathematics; books for excellent students who want to learn a little more about how to get a few extra points, and finally, for those who do not score very many points and / or want to study a little. If you need a little more than a couple of points, don't look at tutorials that promise a full course in five hours and the like.
   • Buy study materials from stores, online, or borrow from the library.
   • Try to find the best textbooks for the exam you are preparing for and focusing on your weaknesses.

Method 2 of 4: Protect Your Health and Deal With Stress

1. 1 Make sure you have a good rest the night before the exam and during your preparation. Try to get a full eight hours of sleep before the exam. If you don't get enough sleep, it will affect your grade. If you don't get enough sleep all the time, it creates stress and you risk getting sick more often.
2. 2 Plan ahead for when you need to go to bed and get up. There is a special planning method that will help you go to bed on time. Start with the time you need to be in the exam room or class the next day. Then, count everything you have to do up to this point.Count all the time it will take you, add sleep to it, and find out what time you need to go to bed in order to get enough sleep.
   • Think about how long it usually takes you to fall asleep, and take that time into account too.
   • Add some spare time to your plan on exam day, in case of unforeseen circumstances, for example, if you suddenly get lost and cannot immediately find the exam room.
3. 3 Eat foods with complex carbohydrates that promote brain function. If hunger distracts you during an exam or preparation, you will not be able to concentrate properly. Therefore, on exam day or before preparation, eat high protein foods such as eggs and / or whole grains that will leave you feeling full for a few hours, such as oatmeal. If there is a break during the exam, bring something to eat, such as an apple, to cheer you up.
   • On the day of the exam, eat complex carbohydrates like oatmeal, which is better than candy, which is made up of simple carbohydrates and sugar.
   • Eat a serving of Omega-3 three times a week. Consider incorporating Omega-3s into your diet if you want to better memorize information and prepare for the exam. This complex enhances the ability to concentrate and liveliness. You can get these substances from salmon, herring, mackerel, trout, and sardines.
   • Eat dark vegetables and fruits for antioxidants that boost your cognitive performance. Oxidants disrupt the integrity of cell membranes, and fruits such as blueberries are a source of antioxidants that protect your brain cells.
4. 4 Get exercise. About two and a half hours a week of moderate-intensity exercise (walking or cycling) will not only help you keep fit, but also clear your head. It will be easier to concentrate on your studies and exam. If you are interested in team sports, there are amateur clubs that congregate in the parks and you can play either for free or for little money. Check with your university or local park administration, consider renting a video tutorial disc, or visit the gym with family or friends. Do this every day or every other day.
   • If you feel like you don't have time, take a 15 minute walk around your block during short breaks. This will allow you to better concentrate on the material when you return to school.
   • Morning jogging can also add energy to you.
   • Find a way to exercise without changing your lifestyle. For example, walk a few stops on your way to the university, or use the stairs and do not use the elevator.

Method 3 of 4: Preparing for the exam

1. 1 Take a mock practice test. The Internet offers a number of trial tests for the same USE using assignments from previous years. If you want to understand what is most important in your exam preparation, it is worth taking a practice test to determine what to focus on. Diagnostic tests can also be found in the textbooks you start with.
   • Take practice tests in an environment similar to a real exam. Time it, put away all gadgets and cheat sheets, turn off the music, and sit at your desk or in some place that resembles an exam site.
2. 2 Try to write an essay on the topic of the exam. If your exam has a written part, work towards completing your essay in the time allotted for it. At the same time, within the allotted time, you also need to make a plan and generally come up with what you will write.
3. 3 Make a lesson plan to structure your time. The plan should be realistic and based on the exam you are preparing for, as well as expert estimates of the time you will need to prepare. For some exams, for example, the Unified State Exam, you need to prepare for several months.
   • Sit down, collect all study materials and make a list of topics / areas you need to learn before the exam.
4. 4 Write down how much time you need for each topic. The key to successfully passing the exam is sticking to a plan, practicing regularly, and completing targeted practice assignments. It is usually necessary to set aside large chunks of time throughout the day for preparation. In accordance with the plan drawn up, distribute the topics to be studied depending on how much material you can learn approximately at one time.
   • Start with the most important material and work your way up to the less important, so you can be sure that you have the most important knowledge before the exam.
5. 5 Use apps like Google Calendar to plan. You can register for a Gmail account if you don't already have one to download the app. Open Calendar, go to New -> Event and schedule your activities with reminders. Check and update your Calendar regularly so you don't forget about your preparation schedule.
   • Google Calendar has an email reminder feature that you can use.
   • Revise your schedule as needed. If something important happens and you don't have time to work out, open the calendar and rewrite the plan. Find a window in your schedule and catch up on lost time to keep up with your pre-calculated pace of preparation.
6. 6 Cancel some of your cases. In order to speed up your exam preparation, you need to free up some space in your daily study schedule. Explain to your family and friends that you want to focus on preparation. Take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that you have the time and space to exercise regularly.
7. 7 Track your progress by completing test assignments. Every two weeks, or more often, depending on the recommendations, complete the test assignments, then review the questions that caused you difficulties. Make notes and comments on what the questions were. If in the test results the wrong answers are not highlighted, try to independently understand what you missed and find the system in your mistakes in order to understand what you need to focus on in future studies.
   • During the exam, do not treat each question as unique. There are several types of questions that are repeated on exams. For example, in the Russian language exam, questions are usually divided into the following categories: grammar and usage, punctuation, sentence structure, strategy, organization and style.
8. 8 Study the areas in which you are not strong. Spend more time studying topics that you do not understand. For example, if in the exam you have problems answering questions about sentence structure, take the sentence structure lessons in your textbook. Ask for help from someone who is well versed in topics that are difficult for you, such as a teacher or friend.
9. 9 Stick to a plan once made. Sometimes the stress that comes with preparing for exams is too much due to the amount of material to study. Combat this stress by focusing on learning one lesson at a time. Remind yourself that you have enough time to go through all the material topic by topic, and do not try to figure out the entire volume of the exam material as quickly as possible.
   • Do not try to learn everything at once, cramming will not help you assimilate the material being studied.

Method 4 of 4: Working on Concentration

1. 1 Try to remove any distractions while studying. One of the best strategies for learning more successfully is to get in the habit of removing everything from your desk that distracts you from your studies. Regular glances towards your phone or computer affect your concentration and assimilation. Move all gadgets away and let your surroundings help you concentrate on your studies. For example, it is better not to turn on the TV in the background and not allow other irritants.
2. 2 Practice in different locations. New research shows that people absorb more information when exercising in different places. You will be able to concentrate better by changing places of study, because this way your environment makes you more attentive. For example, when you feel like you’re losing your passion for learning, move to another room in your home.
   • Try to visit different places with different atmospheres. For example, different rooms have different colored walls and / or different lighting.
3. 3 When you get bored, try changing the direction of your thoughts a little. Think about what you will know when you finish preparing, focus on the positive aspects of this knowledge, do not let boredom get too deep. Think about the potential for using this information in your life or how you can make it useful.
4. 4 Take it easy. When we are preparing for an exam, learning material, or already completing assignments, we instinctively get nervous. Sometimes nervousness is a habit that has lived with us for many years, and preparing and passing exams becomes much more difficult than it could be. This happens because we become too agitated due to our nervousness, and it becomes harder for us to concentrate on the right things and processes. To combat this instinct, there are some simple tips to help you relax:
   • Tighten your muscles and then relax completely. When tense, close your eyes, curl your toes, clench your hands into fists, tense the muscles of your legs and back, etc. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for a few seconds while remaining tense. Then, after five seconds, relax all your muscles at once and enjoy how all the tension is gone.
   • Close your eyes and concentrate your mind's eye on the conic of the nose. Watch your breathing. Note that you are breathing in cool air and breathing out warm air. Continue inhaling and exhaling, concentrating on the tip of the nose, until you calm down.

Tips

• Find the location, time, and materials needed for the exam.
• Please read all exam materials carefully.
• On the evening before exam day, brush up on the location, time, and materials required for the exam.