Exam Tip #1: What’s The Point?

You’re going to sit an exam or two.

So what?

I’m not being facetious.

So what?

Are your exams important?

And if so, why?

It’s all too easy to take some things for granted, such as loved ones, WiFi and functioning body parts. Without them, our well-being would not be the same. Yet we can go for ages without giving any of them a moment’s thought.

I don’t want to get morbid or philosophical here. I just want to make a point: Don’t be thoughtless about your exams. Take a moment to think about how important they are.

What does passing your exams mean to you?

• What doors of opportunity will open?

• What will you be able to do that you can’t at the moment?

• What financial difference will it make?

• How proud will it make your family?

• How proud will it make you?

• What will your friends think?

• What will your future employer think?

• How will it change your life after a month, after a year, after five years?

There is a very good reason why you should think about these questions.

At some point soon, you’re going to have a simple choice: do some revising or do something else. And trust me on this: it’s amazing what you can find to do when you don’t want to revise.

That ‘something else’ will be tempting.

By tempting, I mean more interesting, more fun, more relaxing, more satisfying, more tasty, more fashionable, more sociable and more shiny.

But is it more important?

What difference will it make to your life in five years’ time if you don’t watch your favourite programme this evening, or play your favourite game, or go out with your favourite friends, or spend an hour on your favourite social media platform?

There are many things in life that feel more important than they really are.

There are other things in life that DON’T feel as important as they really are.

One of life’s skills is to be able to tell the difference.

So, let’s go back to the original question: Why is it important to pass your exam(s)?

Now write all the reasons in large bold capital letters and stick them somewhere you can see them every time you need to decide whether to study or do ‘something else’.

It might be just what you need to motivate you to sit down and do what you need to get better grades.

Tip 1: Identify all the reasons why your exams are important and remind yourself of them every time it’s time to revise.