How do you motivate yourself when revising for exams?

SoScrooge

Hi

How do you motivate yourself when revising?

I am taking my ACCA finals this June, and, God knows, I am struggling with it this time. So far, passed 11 out of 14 papers and never failed, but nowadays it really sucks.

Does anybody feel the same? You know that horrible feeling when you read a question, a requirement, and only one word is flashing in your mind: W H A T?

How do you get over this and push on? What motivates you?

Don’t mean to whinge, but I am trying really hard to pay off the debts, get those exams inside my belt so to get a better pay…

Jeez… this sounds … oh well… :rolleyes:

elisebutt65

I've got finance exams in June and then an HR resit in Sept( I was in hospital at the time)

What I tend to do is dig out past papers and just sit and write out example answers.

Also write down everything I need to learn verbaitim, like definitions and references.

I hate that feeling when you turn over the paper and your brain goes - blaaaaaaahhh!!!! - lol. I just start scribbling down everything that comes into my mind, during the 10 mins reading time, all over the question sheet - don't know if you are allowed to do that??? We are encouraged to do this to get the thoughts going.

Then I find the questions I know I can answer and do a mini mind-map, so that then I can make a start. Once I've done the first one, i find that the others follow on much easier.

SoScrooge

Yeah, that is what I am trying to do, but my spirits are at their lowest.

To cheer myself up, I bought tickets for a day indie festival in Camden next week. I told myself: right, here is a pair of lovely tickets, and you can go, but you have to study every night! Kept my promise only for 3 days... and I do have a lot to go through - at least 200 past questions... brrrrr

Shall start afresh tomorrow…

Karnam

my course is essay intensive, eng lit, so every 500 words i let myself have a mini roll which i know are terrible for me but i love them and its worth it

i had to write 12,000 words in one week last year and ate 24 mini rolls in that week! :rotfl:

when i did accounting a level though, i just pushed on to the end until i finished. i normally have a treat at the end, like going to the pictures (this is a treat if you're a student!!) or some real food... not value stuff!

loopy_lass

i have a 5,000 report to write, 2,500 political philosophical essay, and a measly 500 word dissertation proposition to write by the 20th this month. Im a single parent, with M.E. on a tight budget. I look at it like this, get thro this, and all thsi struggling will be a thing of the past... decent job once M.E. goes, daughter gets older & i got my degree. I study hard for say 2 days then i nip round to the tanning place (only 50p per min) and have a quick 5 mins in there, makes me feel better and i got a reward.

hth loops

liz24

When I'm revising I get sidetracked really easily. My solution, which is particularly boring, is to motivate myself by working in the library. I can't waste time on the internet, make tea, clean, watch TV, or do any of the many things I do to avoid working; I just have to work. Plus, it's full of other people working (note this is a university library, public libraries are usually noisier!) which usually motivates me even more.

I try and go to the library 9-5 and then I can have the evening off. It's not something that may work for everyone but it really does help for me. Treats tend to just distract me and I do absolutely nothing!

Moley456

Hi.

Just want to say undergraduates ahve the same problem. A week and a half till final exams. Four exams and then that is it> Three years of Uni over. However i can never motivate myself to revise. I'm posting here when i should be revising.

If anyone can suggest anything, i don't tend to do too well in the library, i find i always forget things or if i need a break i can't really take a break. Daren't leave anything in the library. If anyone can suggest anything that's be great. I can't usually buy treats as i have absolutely no money for after my exams, i have to start working on a summer job to recoup funds.

Any suggestions on how to revise or motivation would be helpful

Thanks

MATT

rowstudent

Moley456 wrote:

Hi.

Just want to say undergraduates ahve the same problem. A week and a half till final exams. Four exams and then that is it> Three years of Uni over. However i can never motivate myself to revise. I'm posting here when i should be revising.

If anyone can suggest anything, i don't tend to do too well in the library, i find i always forget things or if i need a break i can't really take a break. Daren't leave anything in the library. If anyone can suggest anything that's be great. I can't usually buy treats as i have absolutely no money for after my exams, i have to start working on a summer job to recoup funds.

Any suggestions on how to revise or motivation would be helpful

Thanks

MATT

Matt, have you tried partnering up with a mate doing the same course.... i'm sure your not the only one in your year who's asking for help.... meet in groups or 2s and work through example questions and the like.
It makes revising more sociable!

SoScrooge

Matt

Get a study plan. But make it a realistic one. It does help.

Good luck.

tomstickland

From my student days I would say that the biggest mistake people make is thinking that effective revision means 8 hours solid of staring at notes for 2 weeks before the exams. Start really early and just work until you're no longer being efficient, then go and do other things. Exercise and air are good too.

Think smug - start early, have a plan, build confidence, do loads of past papers. I did 5 years worth of past papers in one topic and the exame paper was pretty much a cut and paste of previous papers, so with every question I'd seen a similar one before.

Also, when doing an exam, read all of the questions before answering any of them. It allows your brain to do backround preparation for you.

In terms of motivation, just think of how nervous you will feel on the day if you're not prepared.

maninwhitecoat

A study plan and everything does help, but you have to be ever so disciplined and committed to it. I mean I try and do it, but after about half an hour, i fall asleep. literally. Its really not good. what my friend does is that after every hour of work he does, he takes a break in the form of sudoku, an activity which refreshes his mind but still keeps it working, and its something he enjoys so he won't feel tired from doing it. (although he does sometimes end up spending more than anticipated when he's "close" to finishing a puzzle and can't pull himself away)

Perhaps something similar might work for you?