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Top Knowledge Healthcare Institute wants to see ALL our students succeed. We also know that for many of our students, exam time can be very stressful and nerve racking. Knowing how to properly prepare for exams can reduce your stress levels greatly. Here are some exam preparation tips that are sure to help you excel in your CNA/GNA class.

Developing a Study Plan

It is very important to make a study schedule that does not involve cramming all the information in 1-2 days. Cramming can cause or increase anxiety making it difficult to retain (hold) information. The schedule should map out all of the chapters that has to be covered for the exam and which chapter(s) you will cover on each day. This should be easy to do because students are given a daily schedule the first day of class. The daily schedule has a layout of what is covered each day in class, the dates for all exams and which chapter will be covered on each exam.

On average students should plan to read each chapter twice before the exam. The more you read a chapter, the more you will understand the chapter. That means you will be reading about two chapters a day. The chapters on average are short, so it should take about 1-2 hours for each chapter.

Preparing for the Exam

If you have kept up with the course work, preparing for the exam will involve revision of the chapters that you have already read. If you are behind in the course, you will have to finish the readings before starting the revision, which can increase your anxiety. A good way to revise the material is to answer the objectives that are listed in the beginning of each chapter. Also, you can answer the review questions in the back of each chapter. If an objective or question is answered incorrectly or can not be answered at all, it is advisable that you go back and re-read that section in the chapter.

Besides studying and revising the material, another way to prepare for the exam is to attend every single day of class. Our CNA/GNA training program is a short and fast paced program. Missing one day of class means you are missing 5-6 hours of material. As a result, this can make it difficult for you to grasp the material on your own. With that being said, do not intentionally miss class. If you have an emergency and you have to be absent from class, please see your instructor the next day you return to discuss missed content.

Taking Care of Yourself

Taking care of yourself is very important. To benefit from your study schedule and exam preparation, you have to be in a good mental and physical condition. That means taking time to relax after studying. You don’t want to spend too many hours studying at one time without taking a break. Also, avoid pulling an all-nighter! An all-nighter means studying until the early morning hours. This decreases the number hours you have to sleep, which can hurt your concentration during your exam.

Having a Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude is important in acing your exam! Keeping a positive attitude will decrease your anxiety, which will increase your focus and concentration. Exams are designed to evaluate your knowledge. Some students think exams are designed to trick and fail students. However, they are not. So, stay calm and each answer question to the best of your knowledge.

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