How to cope with exam pressure

Learning half an hour for two weeks before an exam is likely to be better than learning for two hours while you’re waiting to go in.

Nervousness is the enemy, it stops you thinking, and if you’re not thinking during an exam then you’re not going to do too well.

Find out the important stuff: know what happens if you fail.

How your brain likes to be treated at revision time

If you're a student, you rely on one brain function above all others: memory.

These days, we understand more about the structure of memory than we ever have before, so we can find the best techniques for training your brain to hang on to as much information as possible. The process depends on the brain's neuroplasticity, its ability to reorganise itself throughout your life by breaking and forming new connections between its billions of cells.

How does it work? Information is transmitted by brain cells called neurons. When you learn something new, a group of neurons activate in a part of the brain called the hippocampus. It's like a pattern of light bulbs turning on.