A good exam performance reuires consistent work during term time, detailed revision in the weeks just prior to the exam and the use of effective techniques during the exam itself.

The two weeks prior to a major exam are invaluable for consolidating your knowledge and priming you to a top performance. This period should be used for “over-learning”- for consolidating knowledge already learnt.

To make productive use of the two week countdown before exams you should:

• Set your textbooks aside and work primarily from your own notes.
• Draw up a Revision Timetable for every day that remains – set your self specific tasks and allow more time for weaker subjects.
• Maintain personal fitness -  light exercise, regular meals and enough sleep.
• Work actively – Highlight main points, jot down new ideas, practice recall.
• Study summaries -  by now you should have prepared a summary for every important topic.
• Practice recall often -  half your study time should be devoted to recalling what you have learnt.
• Plan answers to anticipated questions.
• Practice essay writing with a time limit.
• Your ‘night before’ routine should involve only revision of topic summaries.
• Be self-confident that you will perform to the best of your ability.

Seriously examine your place of study

Make changes if you can, or consider the library, or an emply classroom.

Examine: lighting, ventilation, room temperature and distractions: objects, audio, friends.

Establish a regular routine of eating, sleeping and exercise

The ability to concentrate depends on adequate sleep, decent nutrition and the increase in well-being that comes with exercise. Students who have all three, generally show higher marks.

Gain an interest in the material and sense of purpose to the task

People are often bored by what is not relevant to them. Therefore, you may need to create relevance – by talking to others or by relating the material to what interests you. In addition, it helps to always sit down and work with a clearly defined purpose and task.

Establish rewards for accomplishments

People work best with positive reinforcement. Reward yourself along the way.

If frequent worrying undermines you, write your worries down and start to think positively.

Writing your worries down initially helps to diminish them somewhat; setting aside time and problem solving around what you have written helps further. For example: turn “I can’t study because the circumstances aren’t right” to “I can make the best of whatever circumstances I’m in and do something constructive!”

Private tutoring has been with us since the dawn of times. Children of primitive humans were tutored! They had to be taught how to light a fire, how to shape stones to make tools and how to kill wild animals for food.

Royality and the great families of Europe  had tutors. Private tutoring was not a luxury, but a necessity before schooling, as we know it today, emerged. In many Asian countries today, private tutoring is part of their culture. Most students of parents who can afford a tutor will have a tutor.

Tutors cater to the many different needs of students. Tutors help to bring students up to standard of the rest of the calss when they have fallen behind, or to better understand their couse matherial to perform well in exams and assessments.

Students who move schools or come from different cultural backgrounds have a lot to gain from a private tutor. They have often missed out on some of the foundational material of a school subject which they need to build on in the later years of their schooling. Without a comprehensive understanding of this foundational material, students approach exams and assessment taks with a great deal of unnecessary angst.

Memory seems to be a common problem among school students so here are some tips to help inprove your memory:

• Food It is critical to eat a balanced diet. There are come foods in particular that promote proper memory function. These include thiamine, folic acid and B12 vitamin.
• Water It is important to help the digestive system and prvent dehydration. It helps to cleanse the body of toxins to allow your body to function properly.
• Sleep Regular sleep is important for good memory. It allows the body to process, revise and store memories for later. Insomnia and fatigue can reduce the capacity of the body to retain information.
• Medication Some medications can cause loss of memory, including anti anxiety drugs, muscular relaxants and sleeping pills.
• Alcohol & Smoking It is well known that both alcohol and smoking have adverse effects on short and long term memory functions.
• Caffeine Coffee and tea can help combat sleepiness and maintain attention in individuals but the excitement can reduce a person’s ability to remember information.
• Motivation With so many distractions it is important to set aside a period of time each day in room, removed from all distractions.

When exams are approaching, some exam techniques are give.

Many parents are faced with having to call in a private tutor to help their children catch-up to the rest of the class or do very well in exams.

Private tutoring can help, mainly because students who fall behind or have problems in particular subjects will benefit from one-on-one regular tutoring sessions.

Students also have the chance to work at their own place with a tutor and be taught according to their individual learning style.

Tutors can also be apart of particular benefit to students befor exams.

The exra help provided by tutors not only helps children do well academically but allows them to approach exams with less stress and more confidence.

But how do you choose a good tutor?

After all parents don’t want to waste money or miss a good opportunity for their child’s school work to improve.

Here are some tips:

• Look for a service which employs enthusiastic tutors.
• Be aware that the cost for a one hour tutoring session can vary from $55-$70. If this is too pricey, ask if half hour sessions or group rates are available.
• Choose a tutor who is prepared to come to you and work around your schedule.
• Ask that the tutor conducts an initial assessment of your child to understand his or hers specific needs and develops a learning program that best suits your child.
• Be aware that the tutoring process is most effective when applied reguarly over a substantial period of time.
• Find a tutor who will talk with parents and teachers about the student’s progress.