1. Start early enough
This tip is the most important of all. Allowing enough time is the be-all and end-all when it comes to such important exams. Nothing will stress a student out more than the realization that you’ve started studying too late. Personally, I would start studying now if you haven’t already. Realize that you are dealing with material from several years of classes, this should not be underestimated! Some things you only have to repeat, but others you may have to rework from scratch and study in-depth. And for some topics you may need a little extra help as well? Try to figure that out!
2. Study with structure
Starting to study without a plan doesn’t help much. You need to be clear about which subject you need to invest the most time in and when it’s best to study for which subject. I personally wrote down on which day I was studying for which subject so that I wouldn’t be overwhelmed or overloaded at the end, and that I knew how much I did already and how much more I would have to do. Gather the material for each subject and make sure you have it all at hand. That way you can estimate how much studying each subject requires.
3. Take a smart approach to studying
Once you know what you must learn, the next step is to find out how you learn best. Here it depends on whether you want to proceed chronologically – i.e. work through one topic after the other as it came up in class – or hierarchically, i.e. do you first devote yourself to those topics that are the most difficult for you and require the most work from you? Look for old summaries that you have already written. This will save you time. You can write new summaries for anything you haven’t covered in detail yet.
4. Find the right learning method
There are many ways to learn well. I wouldn’t recommend simply reading through the material passively or copying it out. Work with mind maps, index cards, explain the material to yourself (personally, I prefer to do this with a mirror), etc. Also find out how you can best concentrate, how often you need breaks to stay focused, whether you need to walk around or sit still etc. For me, the studying game changed when I found out that I need to explain topics to understand them well instead of just reading and writing! Another blog on how to concentrate best, you can find here: www.lyceum-alpinum.ch/6-tips-for-increasing-concentration
5. Don’t leave anything out
I know some students who, for example, have not read the literature for the oral exams in the language subjects, but have only looked at summaries on the Internet. I don’t recommend that! You will lose important information that could very well be tested. If reading really isn’t your thing, find a suitable audio book that you can listen to on the go. But make sure you know what happens in the books so you’re not surprised with questions you can’t answer. Likewise, it’s important to not neglect the things you have more difficulty with, but rather to study for those more!
6. Study according to the type of exam
Be aware that there are many types of exams during the Matura exams. For the languages you will have to learn grammar, you must write essays, there will be listening and text comprehension and for the oral exams you have to speak in that language for 15 minutes. Can you solve math problems for four hours? Practice this! Write the essays, talk to someone in French, Spanish or Italian so that you won’t struggle during the exams. And so on. Do you get the idea?
7. Trust in your abilities
Nothing can ruin your academic progress like a lack of self-confidence and doubt. Exam anxiety is normal, especially for such important exams. But try not to let it stop you or bring you down in any way. There is nothing to be afraid of as long as you prepare early enough and adequately. Of course, nervousness is normal, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to cope with these exams. These exams are not impossible to master! Try to build yourself up as best you can and you will see that you can overcome this challenge, too! Good luck 🙂
Valentina Baumann, Lyceum Blogger and alumna
Photos: Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz & unsplah.com
