You’ve finished your homework, gone through your notes and paid attention in class. What else can you do to give yourself the best chance of doing well in your exams?
Good study tips for exams are not simply about spending more hours at your desk. How you revise matters just as much. Starting early, practising what you have learnt and sticking to a steady routine can make the run-up to an examination feel far less overwhelming.
TLL alumnus Kate Lim shares eight practical tips students can use as they prepare for their primary end-of-year examinations.
You do not need to wait until the exam is just around the corner to begin revising. Starting a little earlier gives you time to see what you already know well and what still needs more attention.
Before opening every textbook and worksheet you own, find out exactly what will be tested.
Start by looking through the syllabus, your class materials and the kinds of questions you may be asked. Once you know what the examination is likely to cover, it becomes easier to see how the topics fit together instead of treating every chapter as a separate task.
It also makes your revision more focused. You can spend more time on areas you find difficult while still reviewing topics you already understand.
Reading your notes is useful, but revision should not stop there.
After reviewing the basics, put what you know into practice. Try different question types from revision worksheets, practice papers and past-year papers where available.
For subjects with longer written responses, you can practise planning your answers before writing them in full.
Model answers can also be helpful. Rather than memorising them word for word, look at how good answers are structured, what information they include and how ideas are explained.
Regular practice can show you where your understanding is strong and where you still need more work.
You do not have to sit at your desk for hours without moving for revision to be productive.
After a period of focused work, step away for a few minutes. Stretch, refill your water or rest your eyes before returning to your notes.
There is no single study schedule that works for everyone. Aim for a routine that gives you enough focused time to make progress without leaving you too tired to take in what you are learning.
Keep your breaks short enough that you can return to your work without losing momentum.
One notification can quickly turn into several minutes of scrolling.
If you do not need your phone for revision, place it somewhere out of reach until you have completed the task you set for yourself. If you are using it for music or learning materials, switch off unnecessary notifications.
You can also set a clear target before you start, such as finishing one worksheet or revising one topic before checking your phone.
It is a simple change, but reducing distractions can make it much easier to stay focused.
As the examination gets closer, there is less need to start everything from scratch. Use these final weeks to strengthen what you know, revisit weaker areas and focus on the information that still needs attention.
Create a simple revision sheet containing the information you are most likely to need a quick reminder of.
Depending on the subject, this could include:
Keep the sheet easy to scan. Adding colour, diagrams or other visual cues may also help you organise information in a way that makes sense to you.
Making the summary is useful revision too. To keep the sheet short, you have to think about what really matters and which points you are most likely to need again.
Think about the schedule you will have during exam week.
If you have a morning paper, avoid getting used to late-night revision followed by sleeping in. Shifting your routine gradually can make waking up and concentrating on exam day feel more natural.
Give yourself time for meals, rest and sleep as well as revision.
The final week before an exam is usually better spent reviewing what you already know than trying to squeeze several months of learning into a few late-night study sessions.
By exam day, most of the hard work has already been done. Rather than trying to cram in more information, focus on staying calm and using what you have practised.
Most students feel nervous before an examination.
Being around classmates who are panicking about what they may have forgotten can make your own nerves worse, especially just before the paper starts.
Give yourself some space if you need it. Take a few slow breaths and focus on the paper ahead rather than on what everyone else is doing.
Remember that an examination measures what you can demonstrate on that particular paper. It does not determine your worth.
If you have prepared consistently, remind yourself of the work you have already put in.
It is easy to start second-guessing yourself when the examination begins.
Read each question carefully and think about what it is asking before you answer. Use the knowledge and techniques you practised during revision.
If a question is taking too much time, move on when appropriate and return to it later.
One of the simplest study tips for exams is to trust the work you have already put in. Nerves are normal, but they do not have to undo the preparation you have done.
Do your best with the knowledge you have.
A revision plan is much easier to follow when students have the right materials on hand. The Learning Lab provides revision resources as part of its curriculum to support preparation for school assessments and the PSLE.
Students looking for additional academic support can also explore The Learning Lab’s Primary programmes for different primary levels.
English revision can feel like a lot because there are several different components to prepare for.
As part of TLL’s English curriculum, students receive instructional materials covering areas such as composition writing, grammar, synthesis and transformation, reading comprehension, cloze passages and oral communication. These notes can provide a useful starting point when organising revision.
Students also receive revision booklets that give them additional opportunities to apply what they have learnt. TLL.360 provides further materials including thematic vocabulary resources, interactive quizzes and practice papers with answers and explanations.
In Mathematics, understanding a concept is only the first step. Students also need to recognise when to use it and work out how to apply it, especially in word problems and non-routine questions.
TLL’s Mathematics curriculum includes Managing Word Problems worksheets with scaffolded examples. These guide students through analysing questions, identifying important information and applying appropriate heuristics step by step.
Closer to the examination period, concept maps, retrieval quizzes and practice tests provide further revision opportunities. Revision Booklets support topical mastery, while Heuristics Booklets focus specifically on problem-solving. Students can also revisit strategies through Heuristics Teaching Videos on TLL.360.
Science revision is not only about memorising facts. A student may understand a concept but still need practice putting that understanding into a clear open-ended answer.
TLL provides revision resources such as quizzes, topic-based infographics, skill-based practices and practice tests. These cover skills including question analysis, experiment analysis and data analysis. Key terms and definition booklets are also used to strengthen students’ recall of important concepts and keywords.
Revision booklets give students more opportunities to apply what they have learnt to different question types. Additional interactive quizzes and practice materials are also available through TLL.360.
Students enrolled in TLL’s regular English, Mathematics and Science programmes have access to TLL.360, the organisation’s virtual learning platform. The platform gives students access to online learning materials that complement their regular lessons.
Revision resources available through TLL.360 include:
Primary 6 students preparing for the PSLE can also explore The Learning Lab’s PSLE preparation resources and programmes for additional revision support.
The most useful study tips for exams are the ones students can stick with. Starting early, practising rather than only rereading notes, cutting down distractions and making time to rest can all make revision feel more manageable. A steady routine can help students reach exam day feeling prepared rather than rushed.
2027 Early Registration is now open. Parents can register early for The Learning Lab’s 2027 programmes to secure their child’s place for the new academic year. Eligible registrations may also receive current enrolment savings and Term 4 2026 fee waivers.