Ideals provide direction for life and determination promotes their success. Your issue is a realistic ideal and an appropriate move towards mitigating the pressures of last minute reading. This can be practically possible if you get determined to engage in early preparations. The following steps can therefore be utilised to help you overcome such a habit.

Always attend and pay maximum attention during lessons. Regular attendance and maximum attention in class is the most reliable approach in preparing for exams in advance. This is because it involves your practical participation and interaction with a teacher through asking questions and receiving meaningful answers which fosters quick understanding and memorisation of the content right from its onset and gives confidence in return.

Take notes and read them on regular basis. Develop a study schedule designed in a logical way, while focusing on the most important and challenging topics first to avoid scattering your revision randomly. This can be accompanied by selecting the most appropriate study resources like textbooks, old assignments, online materials plus making necessary consultations for more clarity. This strategy will equip you with the required knowledge and readiness to sit for exams at any time.

Ensure emotional and psychological stability. Learn to discard certain irritating events that surface in your day-to-day life situations to avoid cases of stress and depression. Eating a well balanced nutritious diet each day could also ensure good health and boost your memory. Encourage class group discussions and contribute actively to the topical discussion for your own exhaustive comprehension in different study areas.

However, this all begins with attitude. If you choose to restructure your reading in advance and give it priority, then it will have a direct bearing on your academic performance and will train you to get rid of the last minute reading which is a bad reading habits.

The writer is a counsellor

YOU DEBATE

The only way to pass exams is by revising constantly and training yourself to answer questions from past papers. This will help you gain confidence which is very important during the exam period.

Frida Dushimiyimana

Start doing small exercises and give them to your teachers to mark. Remember it is these very teachers who set the exams. This approach will drive away the fear.

Sidonie Uwineza

Reading at the last minute is very dangerous because you can easily fail. When you haven’t read, you develop examination fever. The earlier you change the better.

Francine Uwambaje

You cannot pass unless you befriend your teachers and make them have confidence and trust in you. Tell them your problem and they will advise you on how to go about that problem. You can also share your challenge with your parents.

Fabien Emanuel Dukizwanayo