Some call them the most important examinations in one’s life, but for those who are still to write matric exams it means four weeks of stress and self doubt.

Studying for grade 12 exams might be extra special because passing them determines whether you go to tertiary or rewrites failed subjects next year.

Stressing about the exams is only normal but it does not mean that you should go around with a book on your face all the time. A good students started preparing for their their finals the moment they enrolled for grade 12. Now is the time to brush up on what you already know.

The first step to preparing for finals is to use your study leave wisely. It is not a time to hang out with friends at the mall but having daily meetings with study groups going over different subjects.

A study group will only be successful if it has a time table detailing which subject are going to be done when. This means that each member should prepare in advance and come to the session having already gone through their coursework.

The study group is for friends to come together and help each other with problems in difficult sections, you cannot come to the session and expect to learn everything there.

Once you leave the group spend some time doing something that is not academic related and return to your books after you have had a rest.

Maintaining a healthy diet during the exam period is a must and students must avoid indulging in junk food as they provide no nutrition for the brain or body. Snack on fruits and nuts and eat a nutritious meal before the tests.

Another effective tool to prepare for exams is to practice with past exam papers. This helps you get used to the format of the questions. If you time yourself this can also be a good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section in the actual test.

Nothing beats a good night of sleep and plenty of water. Keep your body well hydrated and get plenty of rest so that you can be well refreshed when you sit for your tests.

Lastly as soon as one test is over, move swiftly to focusing on the next one. Dwelling will only waste your time.