Before I show you which phase you absolutely must not forget in your exam preparation, we have to take a look at the general structure of your preparation. Only when this basis is in place can you properly assess the importance of the missing element.
Basically, exam preparation consists of the following elements:
- collect fabric
- Organize/structure material
- summarize material
- learn the material (memorize)
- apply material (build understanding)
- repeat fabric
- Final exam preparation
After you have put together the learning material from the semester, you first get an overview and organize your material collection. As soon as there is a structure, you condense the material and summarize the content. Then you learn: Depending on the subject, the focus of your effort is on factual knowledge (learning by heart) or application-related knowledge (building understanding).
After these phases, the elements are usually repeated until the fabric is in place. Shortly before the exam, the final exam preparation takes place. Auxiliary materials are compiled, the day of the exam is planned and final precautions are taken.
And it is precisely in this final phase that the decisive element lies, which many students forget.
This Mistake Will Ruin Your Exam Success
I don’t want to keep you in suspense any longer. The critical element of your exam preparation is an endurance test. A rehearsal. A query of your knowledge under exam-like conditions. If you neglect or even forget this element, you will never be able to achieve your best performance in the upcoming test.
Only through an endurance test can you see which content is not yet right. You can repeat your material as often as you like – if you don’t test yourself afterward (under realistic exam conditions), you won’t be able to assess where you still need to improve.
Again, because it’s so important:
The biggest mistake in your exam preparation is that you don’t do an endurance test!
Not convinced yet? Then we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of your exam dress rehearsal.
Why an Endurance Test Is So Important
An endurance test is uncomfortable. It’s no fun putting a gun to your chest and torturing yourself through a specially devised “pre-examination”. But the hardships are worth it. An endurance test makes you better. It’s uncomfortable – but helpful.
These are the five most important advantages:
- You recognize knowledge gaps and can then fill them in time.
- You recognize weaknesses in your methodical work and can use this to hone your technique.
- You put yourself in an exam situation and become better in really stressful situations.
- You think result-oriented about your upcoming exam if you already deal with possible exam tasks beforehand.
- You work faster and more purposefully because you are used to working under pressure.
The advantages of an endurance test are obvious and cannot be dismissed out of hand. Despite this, many students forego this element. Either because they don’t know it or because they don’t know how to do their own endurance test.
We have already solved the first problem. We’ll take care of the second now.
How to Conduct a Rehearsal for Your Exam
Every exam is different. Therefore, there is no ultimate guide to an endurance test. But there are a few general tips that you can use to create your very own dress rehearsal. And that for every exam that comes your way during your university career.
Here are ten approaches to guide you:
Create Exam-Like Conditions!
Your dress rehearsal will have its greatest impact only when it is as close as possible to your exam. Therefore, try to simulate the test conditions as best as possible: carry out the endurance test at a similar time, define a clear time window, and so on.
Recreate an Exam Situation!
It is best, however, if you simulate your exam situation even more realistically: Sit in an empty lecture hall for the endurance test and put yourself mentally in the situation that you will face during the exam. If you don’t have a representative exam room available, change rooms at home and do your dress rehearsal in a new environment.
Don’t Use Tools!
Tools are rarely available to you during your exam. Looking up something quickly or doing practical online research is usually not allowed. Therefore, do not use any tools during your endurance test and try to solve your tasks independently. You can, however, requestion a professional writing service to “write my essay” in order to deal with assignments and get more time for exam preparation.
Stop Your Time!
You will only have limited time for your exam – and most of the time you will not have enough of it. You should therefore take this fact into account in your endurance test and work on a temporary basis. Time yourself and get used to the feeling of working under pressure.
Don’t Look at the Solution Beforehand!
Many students have made it a habit to work on new tasks using a sample solution or a ready-made solution sketch. The problem is, you won’t have that kind of support during your exam. So I’m working without a solution. It’s not called an “endurance test” for nothing.
Work Alone, Not in a Team!
While I think teamwork and study groups are great, your exam is between you and the assignment sheet. You have to deal with this situation on your own and cannot expect any help from your fellow students or tutors. Therefore, carry out your dress rehearsal alone and independently.
Do an Old Exam Paper!
In some subjects, lecturers make old exam tasks available or provide information on which tasks could be “exam-like”. Use this material for your endurance test and choose difficult rather than easy tasks. You won’t get anywhere if you use exercises you’ve solved five times before or answer questions that you can recite in your sleep.
Ask Your Lecturer for Help!
If you have no idea of possible exam tasks, you can ask your lecturer for help. Describe your preparation strategy to him, mention the endurance test and ask him about useful (additional) tasks for your project. Most lecturers are willing to provide information and support diligent students.
Feel the Stress – And Endure It!
Many students start an endurance test but then doesn’t last long. It’s too stressful for them; they don’t like the pressure. But that’s exactly what this type of preparation is all about: you deliberately expose yourself to simulated exam stress in order to be able to act better in the later, real situation. Therefore: create stress, feel it, but don’t run away – endure it. Then he loses his negative effect on you.
Be honest: analyze your weaknesses – and work on them!
An endurance test in itself will do you no good. The insights and consequences that you can derive from this are valuable. But only if you evaluate your test honestly and analyze it objectively will you be able to learn from the results. So be mercilessly aware of your weaknesses. Put your finger in your own wound and then heal it by working on yourself. It’s hard and sometimes painful, but your exam result will make up for it.
Conclusion
Many students study hard for their exams but then do unexpectedly poorly. The most common reason: You can’t find your way around the exam situation – because you haven’t practiced it beforehand. You haven’t done an endurance test and therefore feel overwhelmed.
Only with a smart dress rehearsal at the end of your exam preparation can you correctly assess your level of knowledge and skills and decide whether you are fit for the upcoming exam or not. Without an endurance test, you can only guess; with a hardness test, you have certainty.
Therefore, plan some extra time for such a test during your next preparation phase. Don’t forget this critical element of your exam preparation and give it a central role. Test yourself before your examiner does.
You will be amazed at how much you will improve.