Strategies Before The Examination

While taking practice examinations, highlight the areas and questions you find difficult. Go back over them continuously until you understand the strategies behind those question types. This is the time to find and fix deficiencies.

Find a comfortable, well-lit area free from distractions — away from televisions, radios, and conversations. Set aside a time of day when your concentration is at its peak, whether that's early morning, afternoon, or evening. Study sessions of one to two hours are more productive than several 20-25 minute sessions.

For those who smoke: most examinations prohibit smoking for the entire 2-3 hour testing period. Practice going 2-3 hours without smoking so that anxiety doesn't compound your test stress.

Exercise regularly and maintain good physical condition. People who keep themselves physically fit have a competitive edge — a good, physically fit body makes for a good, mentally fit mind.

Get adequate rest not just the night before, but throughout the preparation period. If you normally get seven hours of sleep, get seven hours. Going to bed two hours early the night before an exam does not help — you will likely wake up two hours earlier and arrive at the exam more fatigued and anxious.