Our mental health peer mentors – Astrid, Daniel, and Eleanor, have put together some tips on how to stay relaxed and happy during exam time, along with some brilliant resources to help you study. We hope you enjoy and find this useful!
Your Wellbeing Matters
Over study leave, you are likely to find yourself spending a lot of time sitting in front of a laptop or textbooks revising, but it is still really important that you take time away from your studying and let yourself relax and refresh so that you are able to better concentrate on what you are doing and keep yourself fit and healthy.
One simple yet effective way of getting away from your laptop and out into the fresh air is to go for a walk, however short or long it may be. Even being outside for 5-10 minutes can make a huge difference! There is plenty of evidence to highlight the benefits of going out for a walk and studies have shown that a short walk every day has the potential to increase productivity by up to 30%. This small commitment to getting out can clearly make a big impact on how well you learn and remember. And don’t forget, you make it enjoyable too!
Why not try mixing your routine up a bit each day and go on different walking routes or meet up with a friend and have a chat along the way – your social life matters as well! However much time you have, spending some of it outdoors is very rewarding and will help to reduce any stress that you may feel. Of course, exams and revision aren’t easy, but everyone can do little things to help themselves to feel more positive and happier.
Exam/study resources
Studying effectively is all about finding what technique works best for you! We’ve compiled a few free resources that you can access online that should be helpful when preparing for your exams/prelims, hopefully you will find these very helpful 🙂
Live study sessions on e-sgoil https://www.e-sgoil.com/
Supported study resources on Forth Valley RIC youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@forthvalleywestlothianric4647
BBC bitesize for extra notes, explanatory videos and quizzes https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/secondary
Quizlet for creating and learning flashcards https://quizlet.com/latest
jabchem/jabstem for science past papers and marked answers https://jabchem.org.uk/advancedhigher/
Free higher/advanced higher maths for past papers and other useful resources https://www.highermathematics.co.uk/higher-maths-whole-course/ https://www.advancedhighermaths.co.uk/free-ah-maths/
Free online textbook resources https://collins.co.uk/pages/scottish-curriculum-free-resources
Bright red digital zone for revision exercises etc https://www.brightredpublishing.co.uk/
Youtube accounts
Biology – https://www.youtube.com/@MrMitchell
Chemistry https://www.youtube.com/@MissAdamsChemistry
Physics https://www.youtube.com/@MrMitchellPhysics https://www.youtube.com/@MrSmithsPhysicsonline
Maths https://www.youtube.com/@DLBmaths
English https://www.youtube.com/@stgeorgesedinburgh
Modern studies and history https://www.youtube.com/@MrMarrHistoryandModernStudies
RMPS https://www.youtube.com/@lprentice5413/playlists
Geography https://www.youtube.com/@royalscottishgeographicals9915
Music https://www.youtube.com/@jm-education474
Art and design https://www.youtube.com/@mrbarberteaching/playlists
Languages https://www.youtube.com/@WellingtonMFLChannel (AQA)
Business and computing https://www.youtube.com/@gryffehighbusinessandcompu6624
Admin https://www.youtube.com/@buildyourskill5308
Design and manufacture, graph comm and woodwork https://www.youtube.com/@lhstechnologies167/playlists
PE https://www.youtube.com/@aweebitofpeinscotland3444/videos
What helps you get through exam times? Get in touch to let us know anything else we should add to this page.