Welcome to LearnLawBetter where today we are going talk about what you should do on exam
day.
By following 10 steps you will improve your grades.
Hi, this is Beau Baez, and today I am going to provide you with one principle and 10 tips
to help you improve your grades.
The principle is this: calm students outperform students nervous and tired students every single time.
Let me tell you about John, not his real name, who I was friends with at the elite law school
we attended.
John is very intelligent but he had one problem: he got overly nervous before exams.
On the first morning of the bar exam I noticed that he was frantically reviewing his materials.
During the lunch break he rushed to his car so he could study some more.
And I am sure that he spent every free moment that evening and the next morning reviewing
his notes.
He flunked the bar that time and also the next two times he took it.
I can assure you that John was prepared and would have passed the bar exam the first time
if he had remained calm.
The first tip for remaining calm is to trust yourself.
Ask yourself: did you go to class, did you study, did you do the hard work before the
exam.
If you did all of that then trust that you will perform to the best of your ability.
Tip two: get a good night’s rest so that you can perform at your highest level.
In fact, watch a TV show or do something else to relax, and get your mind off the exam.
Guess what, if you go into the exam tired and stressed, you will get a lower grade.
Tip three: last minute cramming will confuse you and not clear things up.
When students email me within 24 hours of an exam, that is when I get the strangest
questions.
Last minute cramming will actually result in lower grades, not higher ones.
Tip four: eat a well-balanced breakfast as studies show that breakfast is the most important
meal of the day.
Now this doesn’t mean to have a huge breakfast, but you want to have something in your system
so that your brain operates at its optimal level.
Tip five: before you leave home make sure you have everything you need for the exam,
such as your laptop, pen, paper, or books.
Tip six: plan to arrive early.
I recommend getting to school at least one hour early as you never know what might happen,
whether that is bad traffic, a flat tire, or a speeding ticket.
Tip Seven: stay comfortable.
One way to stay comfortable is to dress in layers, as the exam room may be too hot or
too cold for you.
Also, if you need to go to the bathroom, then go to the bathroom.
Don’t worry about losing five minutes of exam time for a bathroom break, otherwise
you will be distracted as you think about how desperately you need to go to the bathroom.
Tip eight: yawn before the exam and during the exam as it is a calming technique—and it works!
Tip nine: if you are extremely sick on exam day then get permission to take the exam on
another day.
I’ve had dozens of students get a low grade because they didn’t know they could request
an accommodation.
Sure, there are those that abuse the system, but when somebody is obviously sick then they
are entitled to take the exam on another day.
Just make sure to contact the Registrar, or other authorized person, who can give you
permission to take the exam on a different day.
And finally, tip ten: if you are excessively nervous and can’t calm down, consider seeing
a mental health counselor, a pastor, or medical professional.
Another friend of mine, who also went to an elite law school, failed the bar three times
before she went to her doctor.
With medicine to calm her down she passed the exam the next time she took it.
There is no shame in seeking help from a professional when it is necessary.
If you have any questions or would like me to talk on a topic that interests you, please
leave a comment below in the comments section.
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