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Wednesday, 10 May 2017

Exam Survival Tips With Help From BIC

Exam season is once again upon us and BIC, the company made famous in 1950 with the release of their ever-popular BIC Crystal Ballpoint Pen, have sent across some of their top tips for studying, as well as some of their stationery for my hardworking students here.



BIC Evolution Pencils - wood-free for no splinters. Made from 55% recycled plastic.
BICKids Evolution Ecolution Coloured Pencils - wood-free and chew-resistant with extra vibrant colours.
BIC 4Colour Shine Pen - every child wants one. The classic 4 colour pen.
BIC intensity Fineliner Pens - really bright and a good range of colours.


Revision Tips From BIC:

One of the biggest challenges for students is simply knowing how to prepare for exams. Locking yourself and a huge pile of books in a room for hours-on-end is very daunting and often not much fun. Everyone learns differently, so flash-cards, mind mapping, flow charts and other techniques may be better ways for you to absorb information. BIC and it's employees have come up with a list of eight tips to help students through their exam period.

Have balance – a tip from the BIC HR Assistant

It’s important to find a balance between relaxation and study, so everything in moderation. Relaxing helps the mind to think more clearly and rationally, as well as helping your brain absorb information for future use. Exercises in mindfulness can help to clear your mind and let you focus.

Don’t let stress get the better of you – a tip from one of BIC Key Account Managers

A small amount of stress can be great for productivity, but you mustn't let yourself become beaten by it. There is a vast difference between a regular stress because you have a lot to do and feeling completely overwhelmed. If you are feeling overwhelmed, write a list and order it by priority, and take each item one at a time in manageable chunks. This will also help you keep track of what you have studied and what you have left. Which leads us to our next point…


Make a schedule – a tip from the BIC Marketing Manager

Before you even start studying, plan ahead. Study ad hoc and your brain will miss vital pieces of information. Some people may find it easier to prioritise study by exam order. If you have a history exam first and a maths exam last, it would make sense to start with history revision, but be realistic. Leave enough time and bear in mind you cannot cram an entire subject into three hours. Stop before you've had too much. Allow enough time to finish, summarise and then take a short break. This can also help with alleviating stress.

Log out of social media – a tip from the BIC Social Media Executive

Social media is a constant distraction with many students checking Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or other social feeds before they get out of bed in the morning and before they go to sleep at night. Being constantly connected can be beneficial, but when exams are on the horizon, social media needs to take a back seat. Shut down the app, turn off all push notifications and do the revision first before you're tempted to look.


Make yourself accountable to someone else – a tip from the BIC Finance Controller

Sports stars train together or hire personal trainers because they keep you accountable. You may be more likely to spend an extra 5 minutes on the couch or do just about anything else other than revise unless there is someone keeping you to your schedule. There are two schools of thought on an ‘accountability buddy’. The first is to choose someone studying the same courses as you. They'll understand your work load and course content, but that can often be a distraction without you even noticing.
The second is to pick someone who doesn’t know your course curriculum. They will be more objective to the time you spend on each subject and can help you to set goals that are encompassing of all the study. A downside of this is that they might not understand that one class or topic requires more work than others. It’s important to remember that everyone studies differently.

Have your tools ready – a tip from one of the BIC Category Managers

This seems rather obvious, but test pens, pencils and highlighters before you go into an exam. The BIC 4COLOURS pen does let you take notes during class, underline important elements in different colours, revise and complete the exam without having the added worry of changing pens or the ink running out.
Here is Bic's checklist of the products you are most likely going to need walking into exams:
BIC 4COLOURS pen – four ink colours in one pen, making it the ultimate study tool
Tipp-Ex Correction Tape – a quick-fix for any little mistakes
BIC Evolution Pencil – an ultra-resistant, wood-free HB lead pencil ideal for drafting essays
BIC Highlighter - highlighters are perfect for emphasising important points in a question, making it easier to formulate the answer.


Eat well – a tip from the BIC Front Office Team

As important as stationery and study is, what you put into your body also needs to be high on the agenda. Your body needs brain food like fruit, vegetables, omega oils, protein and grains. Having a balanced diet will help you concentrate and sleep in the evenings. Notes are no good if you are unable to stay focused.

Other tips – from the BIC Team

Do what works for you, some people may study well with music, others may find it a distraction. The best piece of advice BIC can give you is to spread yourself out. Instead of making little piles of notes, have them sitting beside each other or even stick them on the wall so you see the key messages daily while revising. Use different coloured BIC highlighters for each subject. When looking at what will seem like a mountain of paper, these colours will help you distinguish which subject is where. Make yourself comfortable – change the height of your chair and the backrest before you begin. If you don’t, the temptation to fiddle half way through could get the better of you.

However you revise, don't overdo it. Always remember you are worth far more than simply your exam results....



BIC supplied most of the text for this post, I've edited it in some parts to better suit this blog. I wasn't paid to post this, I felt it was useful. I was however sent the stationery in the photos for my children. Find out more about BIC products on the BIC website.

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