What to do the day before an exam: last-day dos and don’ts

The day before an exam is like riding a rollercoaster of emotions: from feeling pumped up to feeling jittery, from being sure of yourself to second-guessing everything. 

But it’s also that time when you need to make the most of your time and get yourself totally ready for whatever the upcoming exam brings. 

So, in this article, I’ll tell you my perfect study routine for the day before a big test.

How to study day before exam: the morning schedule

The day before the exam is like the run-up to a great challenge. Get a good start in the morning and you will see that everything will go smoothly.

Here are some tips to make the morning program an effective and engaging experience:

• Study with flashcards and summaries: a knowledge boost in minutes.

Begin your day by flipping through your flashcards or any other speedy summaries you have prepared.

This will allow you to quickly review key concepts and refresh your memory without overloading your brain.

• Fill in your gaps with review

Do a focused review of your notes and previously assigned tasks. Identify areas where you may have gaps and focus on them. Carefully review the questions and answers, trying to understand the reasoning behind each solution. 

If there are concepts that are not clear to you, do not hesitate to consult textbooks or ask your fellow students for help. The goal is to arrive at the exam with a complete understanding of all the topics covered.

For that, I suggest you try dende’s new Reread feature: log into your personal profile and you will find a page on the menu on the left. 

It collects all the questions you got wrong and tells you the last answer you gave that question.

You have two options:

1. Reread which opens the document to the exact page where the answer is so you can check it and memorize it
2. “Try again” to attempt the question again

You also have the Reread option in quiz mode, so in the feedback it gives you after the answer, you have the option to see the correct answer or click reread to open the document to the correct page. This is ideal for reviewing the day before a big exam!

• Practical exercises: study with multiple choice tests

Test your knowledge through practical exercises, perhaps with multiple-choice tests. 

This type of activity allows you to test your knowledge efficiently, covering a wide range of topics in a short time. 

In addition, preparing with this type of question improves your time management skills and reduces stress during the real exam.

What to do before a big test the afternoon before

So, it’s the afternoon before your big exam. It’s time to gather your stuff, push away distractions, and make the most of your time.

Start by packing your exam kit: imagine this moment as the pre-game of a high-level athlete.

Pack your backpack carefully, making sure you have everything you might need during the exam. Fill your bag with your favorite pens, sharp pencils, erasers, highlighters, and any other tools that make you feel ready to take on tomorrow’s challenge.

We all know how easy it is to fall into the trap of social media and online distractions. However, now is the time to demonstrate your mental strength and determination.

Turn off your phone and put aside any other distractions that might prevent you from focusing on your preparation. Now is the time to focus on macro-topics.

Use dende’s “Concept” feature, designed to help you focus on key concepts in your study material. 

This feature analyzes your study documents and creates customized quizzes tailored to you in seconds, based on the most important concepts you need to know for the exam.

This allows you to optimize your study time, focusing on the areas that require the most work and ensuring that you have a solid understanding of key concepts.

What to do right before a test: the last evening

The night before the exam is time to prepare and get in the right mindset. Forget books, notes and review tests.

Dedicate time to yourself by practicing deep breathing techniques and, if it is your thing, a few yoga poses. This will help you clear your mind of the stress accumulated during the day and relax completely.

Forget energy drinks and go for something more relaxing, such as herbal tea or a glass of warm milk.

Before going to bed, mentally visualize your success during the exam. Imagine facing the questions with confidence and answering them with ease.

Now you are ready to take the exam with the right spirit and determination. So, good night and…good luck for tomorrow!