The final countdown

By Kay Kevlihan

Even the brightest of students will have periods of absolute certainty that they will perform miserably in the Leaving Cert. Wrestling with a particularly tedious subject, an insurmountable volume of revision, compounded by anxiety and exhaustion, can easily result in panic and an inability to study.

Doing yourself justice in the exam is what matters. Your best will be good enough, but how can you keep your head together and maximize your efforts in the run-up to June, so that you approach your exams with confidence?

It can be done if you follow a study plan devised by a guidance counsellor for Journal readers. Parents can also help and have a vital role to play in providing practical and emotional support that will help reduce stress.

Our 14-point study plan:

1. Develop a balanced approach that incorporates work, rest and play periods. Spread your study/revision over seven days, finishing, at the latest, at 9.30pm. This will allow time for your mind to settle, so you will be more relaxed late at night and will have a better night's sleep. If you balance your study over blocks of seven days, you should be fresh to tackle each study session, so it will be quality study.

2. Your study schedule should incorporate study at weekends but should also allow you plenty of time for meeting friends and a lie-in. Study in one- to two-hour sessions a couple of times each day over the weekend, rather than letting it build up.

3. Draw up a revision list, pin it to the wall where you study, and work systematically through it, directing your study towards exam questions and key points. Use revision notes series available in every subject. Exam Brief in the Irish Independent is a good reference point. Study exam papers.

4. Break up your study into small units, possibly 20 to 30 minutes per subject and include five- to 10-minute "recovery" breaks. However, instead of flopping in front of the TV, try short bursts of exercise, such as kicking a ball around the yard or a short run or walk.

5. Get up an hour earlier a few mornings a week for concentrated study in a particular area that needs attention. You will be fresher and better able to tackle difficult topics early in the morning.

6. What is study? Remember, study is inclusive of what you do in school; homework reinforces schoolwork and revision is the icing on the cake.

7. Attend all your classes and avoid working totally in isolation. Most of the course work will have been covered by now, so a lot of classwork is revision or exam preparation and that is quality work. It is important to be in school to get the support of your teachers and friends, to see the bigger picture. That's a support structure in itself, and attending classes provides a structure to your day. Use free classes to study.

8. Don't let your mock Leaving Cert result dominate your thoughts. Many of the courses were not totally covered at that stage, so it was just a "dress rehearsal". The real value of the mocks is learning from the mistakes you have made. They are a dry run, but you must remain focused on June, the important time.

9. Keep the Leaving Cert in perspective. Remember that around 60,000 students sit the Leaving Cert, achieving an average of around 300 points. The percentage who don't achieve beyond a D is extremely small, so failure is not an issue. The challenge is to achieve to your capabilities. To achieve that depends on how focused, relaxed and concentrated you can keep yourself. Believe that if you organize yourself you will succeed.

10. Be realistic about your choices and don't put yourself under undue pressure - you have fall-back positions in your CAO choices. Believe in your own ability.

11. Detach yourself as much as possible from the frenzy that surrounds the Leaving Cert. If you have a bad day, don't get upset - tomorrow is another day.

12. Keep healthy. Eat well, get plenty of fresh air and some exercise so you will be more relaxed and sleep better. Anxiety is part of the run-up to the exam, so concentrate on remaining positive. There is still plenty of time if you use it properly.

13. If you have difficulties in particular subjects, get them resolved immediately by talking to your teachers rather than allowing them to build up. Keep a balance in your subjects - an A or B is equal in all subjects. Remember: your best will be good enough.

14. Farm work can be a great stress buster but, as with any part-time job, keep it to a minimum for the next few weeks.