The end of the semester is just around the corner, and that means final exams are drawing nearer. This time of year is always stressful for high school students. A lot of people let their stress and anxiety get the best of them. It can cause one to rush through their exams with fuzzy heads. Some people study too much, while others do not study at all. And yes, there is such a thing as studying too much. It can cause information overload which may lead to bad grades. There are ways to set aside time away from your studying while still getting passing grades. Some of the following examples are only a few of the very helpful ways to get through exam week. If none of them work for you, try something different. Maybe you will discover what works best for you.

The first, and probably most important, method to push through exam week is to choose a study method. Creating a schedule that suits you and your style can be very beneficial. For example, choose a method that is fun for you. Yes, it is possible to have fun when you study. Some people enjoy using flashcards. Some students may even come up with a fun and artistic way to help them remember the information they are given, such as drawing images that are linked to the knowledge you want to recall. You could even make studying a fun game with a reward. Try doing a speed round of flashcards, and every flashcard you get right in the end, grab a piece of candy. Now, while some people try to make studying fun, others may motivate themselves rather than reward them for their work. An example of this could be, every question you get wrong, do a pushup. So, this method depends on if you work better with rewards or punishments, but it works nonetheless.

Getting enough sleep is another, lesser known, way to help you prepare for your exams. Teenagers, on average, need eight to ten hours of sleep per day. Most people do not follow these guidelines, however. In the coming week, consider the possibility of a few extra hours of sleep. Your body will thank you. While sleep is good for us in general, it plays a big role in exams for teens. While you are sleeping, your brain goes over the information in your brain, and in the morning you feel refreshed and ready for the upcoming test. It is a common occurrence for teenagers to go to sleep past midnight, in the early morning. Even though this may not seem like a problem, your brain and body need sleep. With little to no sleep, you will be groggy and exhausted in the morning. This will make your brain feel foggy and confused when you sit down to take your exam, no matter how much you studied the previous day. Sleep is not just important for taking quizzes and tests, but it is also important for your everyday life. So take into consideration the consequences of no sleep.

A third method to prepare yourself for the upcoming exam week is to take breaks. Some people end up pushing themselves too much, that the effort of studying takes a toll on their body and they end up forgetting everything they learned. You can prevent this by taking periodic breaks. Step away from your notes and take an hour or two doing something you enjoy. This will keep your brain happy and working the next time you sit back down to study. Watch a movie, play a video game, hang out with friends, or even just take a walk outside. Just get away from your studying area. A change of scenery can be good and will help you feel refreshed later on. This does not mean that you have to take a long time away from your notes. 20 minutes is even enough. Grab a snack or a drink and get right back to your work. It does not matter how many times or how long you step away from your studying, but do it at least twice, to keep your brain processing the information in front of you.

A final method you could try is to eat a healthy and balanced meal and drink a lot of water. Before your exam, have breakfast. This is hard for some people, and that is understandable, but at least try. If you cannot, grab something small like a granola bar or a piece of fruit and eat it when you arrive at school. If you are hungry or thirsty when your exam starts, your brain is going to constantly remind you of this fact. It will be hard to concentrate on your exam if you cannot think straight. It may even cause your body to feel a little weaker. This will affect how you do in your exam. So remember to eat and drink to keep your brain functioning like it should.

As said previously, this is not even half of the methods that could be useful to help you push through exam week. There are many more that have not been covered above, so if none of these work for you, research more methods. There is bound to be something that will keep you remembering the information you need. In fact, you could possibly make up your own. The possibilities are endless. So next time you think that you will not pass your Apex High School exams, just remember that there are ways to help you achieve greatness, no matter how impossible it may seem.