What do you do if you feel unprepared for an exam?

Learn strategies to cope with feeling unprepared for exams by assessing where you are, planning what you can do and maintaining a positive and calm outlook.

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  • Suitable for members aged 12-17
  • 4 minute read
  • 814 words (2 sides of A4)
  • Providing help and guidance on Coping with exams and School & Hobbies
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Feeling Unprepared for Exams: Understand Why and How to Tackle It

Feeling unprepared for an upcoming exam is a common worry among teenagers, regardless of how much or how little revision has been done. Exams test not only our knowledge and understanding of a subject but also our ability to manage time and stress.

The Roots of Feeling Unprepared

The feeling of unpreparedness can stem from multiple sources. It could be due to inadequate revision time, lack of understanding of the material, inefficient study techniques, or even external pressures and stress.

It's important to recognise why you feel unprepared because this understanding can guide you to the appropriate solution. For instance, if time management is an issue, focusing on better scheduling might be beneficial. Or, if the material is difficult to understand, seeking help from teachers or peers might be the way forward.

The Psychological and Emotional Impact

Feeling unprepared can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and sometimes even feelings of defeat or depression. For many teenagers, this stress can affect not only exam performance but also overall well-being. You might notice symptoms like difficulty sleeping, irritability, or a decrease in motivation. These emotional and psychological responses can create a vicious cycle, causing more problems with your ability to prepare.  

Effective Coping Strategies

1. Assess and Plan

Take a moment to truly assess what you know and what you don't. Break down your revision into manageable parts and create a structured timetable. Assign more time to areas you feel weakest in. This might seem daunting at first, but it's easier to tackle a large project when it's broken down into smaller tasks. If this feels daunting, ask a friend, family member or teacher for help.

2. Study Smart

What do you do if you feel unprepared for an exam?

  • Active Recall: Quiz yourself on the material. Use flashcards or apps designed for self-quizzing. This technique forces you to recall facts from memory, improving retention.
  • Spaced Repetition: Space your study sessions over time. This method has proven more effective than cramming all your study into one marathon session.
  • Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This keeps your brain fresh and less likely to become overworked.

3. Use Available Resources

Don't hesitate to use resources at your disposal. This could be anything from online tutorials, study groups, or extra classes offered by your school. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but rather a proactive approach to understanding material better.

4. Mindfulness and Wellbeing

Maintain your physical and emotional health. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep are crucial during exam preparation. Moreover, practices such as meditation and deep breathing exercises can significantly reduce stress levels.

5. Simulate Exam Conditions

Practicing under exam conditions can be beneficial. Set aside time to answer past exam papers or sample questions within the allotted time. This not only helps you practise what you have learned but also improves your time management skills during the exam.

6. Stay Positive and Flexible

Maintain a positive mindset. Believe in your ability to learn and perform. Accept that partial knowledge of material might sometimes have to suffice. It's about doing the best you can with the time and resources available.

Moving Forward: Turn Anxiety into Action

The key to dealing with feeling unprepared for an exam isn't just hard study but smart study. Combine effective learning techniques with good mental and physical health practices. Remember, exams are just one part of your educational journey and do not define your entire worth or future potential. Each exam is a learning experience an opportunity to improve and refine your study methods and approaches.

Finally, always reach out for support when needed. Whether it's teachers, friends, family, or mental health professionals, there's an abundance of resources out there designed to help you through periods of stress and uncertainty.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

  • Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
  • NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
  • The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
  • SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
  • Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.