A good education is priceless when it comes to being successful in today’s world. However, knowing this doesn’t make exam time any less stressful.

What might make it less stressful is knowing the 8 most common exam mistakes so you can avoid them. Read on to learn what they are!

1. Procrastination

When a deadline is far away it’s so easy to put off studying until later. Unfortunately, this dreadful mistake will leave you with a ton of studying in a short amount of time.

Trying to cram the night before a big exam is an extremely ineffective way to study. Your brain processes information better in little chunks over time. Do yourself a favour and plan to accomplish little tasks each day so it doesn’t pile up.

2. All-Nighters

Procrastination is usually what leads to pulling an all-nighter. Unfortunately, this is an even worse way to study. The brain doesn’t work well without sleep. Instead, spend a few minutes going over your notes the night before and maybe give yourself a quick quiz in the morning, but aim to get enough sleep.

3. Panic

Some people struggle with exam anxiety even when they’ve spent plenty of time studying for it. Don’t panic. It’s okay, if you’ve planned your time well and studied for the test you’ll do great. Even if you don’t the world isn’t going to end. Just do your best work and you’ll do just fine.

4. Ignore the Hard Stuff

It’s easy to ignore confusing concepts. It’s more fun to study the stuff you can easily wrap your mind around. However, if you keep ignoring the hard stuff, eventually you’ll get too lost. Start with the hard stuff as you prepare for your school exam to give you plenty of time to work on it or seek help from your teacher.

5. Skip Breakfast

Your brain needs fuel to work. By the time you sit down for your exam, last night’s dinner is long gone. You might even notice that your brain seems foggy. Eat a nutritious breakfast like granola and an apple (not sugary doughnuts) and you’ll be amazed at the difference.

6. Let Time Get Away from You

Don’t be a clock-watcher during the exam, but do keep an eye on it as you’re working. You don’t want to spend so much time on one section that you’re out of time for the other sections. If one section is slowing you down too much, skip it for now and finish the rest of the exam. If you still have time at the end, you can come back and finish.

7. Lack of Preparation

What will you need to take with you to the exam? Lay it out or load your school bag the night before so you don’t have to scramble in the morning.

8. Leave Questions Blank

Even if you think you don’t know the answer, don’t leave it blank. You never know, you might get it right! If you leave it blank, there’s no chance you’ll get credit for the answer. But if you try, you might get at least partial credit for it.

We hope this article has left you feeling more prepared for your next exam.