Studying for exams

Research has shown that success in exams depends on physical as well as intellectual fitness, and while there is no substitute for studying, keeping yourself in good physical shape will help you to make the most of what you've learned. The following advice will enable you to perform at your best at exam time.

Exercise

Many people believe that there are two kinds of student: the fit, sun-tanned type with bulging muscles and a low IQ, and the weak, pasty academics, who wear thick glasses and pass all their exams. The implication is that students are either intellectual or physical, which is not in fact the case. Recent studies have found that students who take regular exercise generally do better at school than those who don't. For example, twenty minutes of aerobic exercise will immediately bring about:

§ an improved performance in IQ tests

§ a reduction in stress

§ improved levels of alertness and concentration

§ faster, clearer, more creative thinking

§ an improvement in your memory.

So, try to do some aerobic exercise at least three times a week. But remember, as exercise peps you up, it's better not to do it near bedtime. It could cause insomnia. And on the exam day, exercise before your exam starts, preferably outdoors.