Nihal Pekbeken is Vice President of Global Marketing and Creative Services at Universal Networks International, one of the world’s premier entertainment networks. We caught up with her for a chat about her job and career so far.

Tell us about the job you’re doing now?

Leadership of the global central marketing team with responsibility for the strategic development of brand marketing and communication plans aligned to the UNI (Universal Networks International) business objectives. I have been tasked with the rebrand and management of portfolio of global channel brands and web initiatives as well as the global positioning and creative origination to promote channel content through integrated initiatives (promotions, merchandising, events, partnerships, digital etc.).

What is the most exciting aspect of your work?

I would say that the global nature of the role is what makes it exciting. For example, when we are looking to launch new content such as Rookie Blue and we are looking at creative communication campaigns, we have to have an understanding of how the creative will translate culturally. This goes beyond literal translation. It is a challenge trying to find routes that suit all markets so we have to establish how the communication can be varied both creatively and message-wise in order to work within each market. When you think about all the markets we deal with, it gives you an idea of the scale of the task.

Would your classmates from school be surprised at what you’re doing now?

I am in contact with a few school, college and university friends and I can honestly say they are not surprised at what I’m doing.  I have always been ambitious. They know I have high standards and demand quality of creative and service at all times, not only from my teams but also from the suppliers and business partners. The only thing that would surprise them is how much tougher I have become since school. That’s just life I’m afraid.

Was there a teacher who had a particularly strong influence on you and if so in what way?

My early years at Brunswick Park Primary School have been very influential in shaping my creativity. I had a few very good teachers – my music teacher Mrs Bromley was always great at encouraging us to do things differently and to push ourselves in music and dance.  It seems silly to think of that as an influence but I remember thinking at the time that anything was possible.  I still think that today.

What school subjects were you good at and have any been surprisingly helpful later on?

I was an all rounder as a student, meaning generally good at everything. My parents were very strict when it came to education and I didn’t want to embarrass myself with bad grades. The ones I was better at were art, English language and literature and music. However if you want to be successful in life you need to know how to make money so the subjects I disliked have actually been the most useful – maths, economics and business studies.

How did you decide what you wanted to do after school?

I don’t remember ever knowing what I really wanted to do with my life until after university. When I was a child I used to say I wanted to be a business woman as I thought it sounded like a pretty successful role. Clearly I didn’t know what it meant. Sometimes I get asked why I chose to do a PR degree – I guess at the time I was into creative writing and it had an element of that. But in all honesty, I was just 17, still living at home with my parents – so what did I know? There will be a lot of students stumbling into degrees the same way and there is nothing wrong with that because you soon understand what it is you want to do and it is never too late to change direction.

Did you take a gap year? Did it influence any decisions later in life?

I didn’t need to take a gap year. For me leaving home for the first time to go to university was kind of my gap year and an adventure in itself. Also I had a pretty adventurous life growing up as my parents loved travelling and we have family living abroad. My dad decided he wanted to take the whole family to Turkey by car in the early 80s. It took over a week to get there with six of us in an Opel Ascona which wouldn’t have been so bad if my dad hadn’t insisted on us sleeping in the car as well. I can’t begin to tell you how uncomfortable it was.  But now I’m grateful to him for giving us that experience as I think it gave me an appreciation of cultures which is a major part of my job.

If you went to university what was your university experience like?

University went by in a blink of an eye. The new found freedom away from my parents meant I became a bit of a social butterfly, initially with more emphasis on the social and less on studying in the first year. But that is part of the student experience and you soon realise that unless you work hard you aren’t going to graduate with anything decent. I settled down in the second year. My third year was spent in a placement at a project management agency in Chandlers Ford and gave me my first real taste of working life. I had summer jobs when at college but it’s not really the same as having to commit yourself to a 9-5 schedule every weekday for a year. It was a bit of a reality check and a good one at that. By the time I returned for my final year I was a little more mature in my thinking and outlook which helped me approach that dreaded dissertation. I look back now and realise how easy everything was compared to challenges at work.

What was the proudest moment of your life so far?

It’s hard to say. There are many career and personal highs I can mention.  I adopted a child a few years ago and I’m very proud of her.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I enjoy what I do so I would like to think that in 10 years time I’m still doing this but for my own business.

What advice would you give someone still at school who wants to do what you’re doing now?

If you want a career in marketing then a marketing qualification will get your foot on the ladder.  Your degree/qualification opens the door to a job but once you are in employment you need to focus on what is expected of you.  My advice is for graduates to remember that many senior managers have worked their way up from the bottom – some with degrees and some without.  Therefore a ‘can do’ attitude together with a willingness to learn is very attractive and will get you far.

Can you give us a link for more information?

http://www.uninetworks.tv/

Tell us about the job you’re doing now?

I’m a freelance copywriter, so I write marketing and PR materials. I mainly work with B2B technology companies (businesses that sell products and services to other businesses, instead of consumers). It’s really varied – one day I could be writing an advert or a brochure, and the next day I could be helping a company define their messaging.

What is the most exciting aspect of your work/training?

I think the thing I love most about my job is that you really have to understand how business works and what’s going on in different industry sectors. A lot of people think copywriting is just being clever with words, but you need to know how the people you’re writing for think and what they’re worrying about.

Would your classmates from school be surprised at what you’re doing now?

Probably not – I was a real bookworm at school, so I guess it’s not really surprising I’m doing something with words!

Was there a teacher who had a particularly strong influence on you and if so in what way?

My history teacher at school was really supportive during my A-levels. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the time and before it was brought under control with medication I was quite ill and school was a bit of a struggle.

How did you decide what you wanted to do after school?

I knew I wanted to do archaeology at university because I was really interested in history and used to spend the weekends digging up bits of bone and pottery in my Mum and Dad’s garden.

After university, I didn’t have a clue what to do and was pretty directionless for a few years. I temped for a while which was a bit soulless but was also really good experience, both in terms of picking up general office skills and working out the kinds of things I enjoyed doing – and the stuff I hated!

Once I’d figured out I liked researching and writing, I joined a small PR agency and stayed there for five years. Gradually I realised that if I wanted to write more, I needed to be in marketing rather than PR and got an in-house job as a marketing writer. Later on I went freelance.

Did you take a gap year? Did it influence any decisions later in life?

Yes, I took a gap year and worked in a solicitors’ office to earn enough money to go on some archaeological digs. I’m glad I did because the digs were really good fun and I wasn’t really ready to go to university straight out of school.

A few years ago my husband and I took some time off work to do all the travelling some of our friends did during their gap years. It was brilliant, but I’m pleased I did it after spending a few years earning, because travelling with a bit of extra cash made it a lot more fun!

What was your university experience like?

University was great. I’d never really been challenged before to think in the way I was asked to when I got there. Plus I made life-long friends who I shared some outrageous adventures with!

What was the proudest moment of your life so far?

Probably landing the job as an in-house marketing writer. I didn’t have any experience of marketing and I desperately wanted the job, because I knew it would lead me to where I wanted to go.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I’m really enjoying freelancing because I love being my own boss and having a variety of clients, so I’m going to carry that on for the foreseeable future. With an energetic young son around these days it’s hard to think about what’s happening next week, let alone in ten years!

What advice would you give someone still at school who wants to do what you’re doing now?

I’d say don’t worry too much about getting straight into the industry if you can’t get the right job. Try to find a job that lets you do a bit of writing, even if it’s only an admin role where you’re writing letters or flyers.

Once you’ve got some experience of being in the working world on your CV, it’ll be easier to get an entry-level position in an agency or with an in-house marketing team and you can work your way from there.

Any suggestions for where we can find out more information?

I really enjoy ABC Copywriting’s blog (http://www.abccopywriting.com/blog/) which is an intelligent and often quite funny look at copywriting and marketing. If you’d like to see some of the work that I do, take a look at my website www.annamilan.co.uk/work.

This week icould caught up with Hugh Chappell and asked him to let us know how he ended up where he is today.

Hugh has worked in the IT and publishing industry since 1976.  He worked for Apple in the UK from 1979 when the personal computer industry was in its infancy.

In 1985 he established Taxan (Europe) Ltd, a wholly subsidiary of Kaga Electronics, Japan.

In 2003 he founded TrustedReviews.com and in 2005  he acquired bit-tech.net.  Both on-line only publications quickly became market leaders in their respective sectors.  Hugh achieved his ultimate goal when he sold TrustedReviews.com to Time Warner/IPC Media in 2007 and bit-tech.net to Dennis Publishing in 2008.

Hugh is now involved with several start-up organisations and companies either as a mentor and/or investor. He also works with more established companies using his experience to provide an independent voice on strategy, performance, risk and people.

He has invested in Net Communities (network and publisher), Lovestruck.com (dating), and ParkatmyHouse.com (car parking).  His non-executive Director roles include Time Out Group, Dennis Publishing and MyVoucherCodes.com.

How did you decide what you wanted to do after school?

I had no idea. I considered being an airline pilot, a rock star etc. and then woke up!

You left school at 17, why?

I went to very good grammar school, however I recognised after two terms in the sixth form that studying was not for me.  I wanted to experience life, I wanted to earn money!

What was your best subject a school?

Maths, I love numbers.

Was there a teacher who had a particular strong influence on you and if so in what way?

To be honest, I found teachers focussed on what I was doing wrong.  In general there was no guidance or help.  I recall one saying, “he will be a millionaire or a failure”.  They were right!

Tell me more about you?

I play to win.  I am an individualist and a team player according to the situations in front of me.  I am a perfectionist, I cannot stand untidiness or mess at home or in the working environment.  I am also disciplined, self-motivated and very good with money/cost control.

What was your first job?

I was fortunate, my father helped me secure full-time employment in a company where he held a senior position. The company also sponsored further education (ONC and HNC in Business Studies).  Overnight my character changed, from messing around at school to working very hard and building my education with a subject matter  relevant to the working environment.  I worked in small computing department as an analyst/programmer, becoming supervisor of the department.

And after this?

I joined Apple in 1979 because I saw a future in personal computers.

Tell me more about your attitude to work?

This is the important part.  From my very first day I worked very hard. I did my job to the best of my ability and continue to do so now.  I was never late for work and I always worked beyond my finish time to complete my work ahead of schedule and perhaps to stand out.   A job done well combined with hard work is appreciated by customers, colleagues, management and stakeholders.

What advice would you give someone still at school who wants to do what you’re doing now?

Be different, work extremely hard, be patient and respect the people above you.  Good manners is always appreciated.  Success at work will shape your life so get into the right frame of mind.  Work first, play second.

Employment or start your own business?

There is great emphasis right now on entrepreneurship and rightly so.  I would encourage anybody at school to consider ways to earn money during their spare time.  So many businesses start with a simple idea and require minimal if any investment.  Your time will be the biggest investment.

What is the proudest moment of your life so far?

Selling my company, TrustedReviews.com, to Time Warner/IPC Media.

Any further advice?

Yes, remember the difference between you and success is YOU.  There are three types of people, there are those people who make things happen, there are those people who watch things happen and finally there are those people who ask what happened.  Which one are you?

Laura Snapes is Assistant Reviews Editor at NME music magazine. She wanted to work at NME since she was 13 years old and took some time out to tell icould what it’s like to land the job you’d always dreamed of.

Tell us about the job you’re doing now?

I work for NME music magazine as the Assistant Reviews Editor. I’m in charge of all the gig listings and writing the previews for the best shows. I also assist on anything else that might need doing for the Reviews section.

What is the biggest challenge you have at the moment?

Balancing time and finding enough hours to write the gig guide and write other features. It’s hard to find the time to come up with ideas for other articles, pitch them and then put them together.

During this time of year I’m also really busy attending lots of festivals. I have been to four already this summer and have another three to go to before the festival season finishes.

What is the most exciting aspect of your work?

Of course the festivals are a major perk, and getting to go lots of different gigs. The reason I wanted to do this job when I was younger was so that I could meet my favourite musicians for legitimate reasons without having to be a creepy stalker! I’ve met most of my favourite bands that are still alive. I think it’s always good to try and turn your hobby into a job.

How does technology help you do your job?

I use my phone when I’m reviewing gigs. It’s quite difficult to write notes in a dark room whilst you’re watching a gig so it’s handy to be able to write some notes on your phone.

I use Twitter a lot. It’s a great way to interact with your community and talk to people who you wouldn’t otherwise know.

What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier in life?

I wish that I had realised earlier that it wasn’t essential to go to university. You’re told that university is the best time of your life but that’s not always true. I think anyone who says it is clearly isn’t living well after university is over! Essentially, university is there to help you get a job, so if you can get one without going, or before the end of your course, then grab the chance.

Would your classmates from school be surprised at what you’re doing now?

No not at all. I was always the one at school who knew everything about different bands. I used to come in on a Monday morning and write the Top 40 on the blackboard!

Was there a teacher who had a particularly strong influence on you?

I had an English teacher in Year 10 who had lived in London during the punk era in the late 1970s – he used to tell me lots of stories about it. He would also be great if I didn’t do my homework, I would instead bring in an article that I had written for NME, he would roll his eyes at me but was always fine with it!

What’s your desert island essential that you couldn’t do without?

My laptop and an internet connection! I could continue doing what I do whilst I was there and listen to some music whilst I waited for someone to come and rescue me.

Have there been any clear turning points in your life so far?

Applying for my job at NME was a major turning point. I was offered the job the day before I was due to go to Austria to live for 6 months as part of my degree. Instead I quit university and had a week to find somewhere to live and move to London. At the time my parents were really annoyed, but now I don’t ring them asking for grocery money, they don’t mind.

What was the proudest moment of your life so far?

It would have to be getting the job that I’d wanted since I was 13 years old. I had dreamed of working for NME for a long time but never thought it would happen.

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years time?

I’d still like to be a music journalist; I never want to not be! It would be nice to be in a position that allows me to write every day. I’d like to write books about a couple of bands and perhaps spend a year living in New York or Sweden.

Tell us about the job/training you’re doing now?

I am responsible for all marketing activities of Quiksilver, Quiksilver Womenand Roxy in Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). The idea is that I implement the European guidelines that are being set out by head office, on a local level – so I take care of events, retail and trade marketing, PR,                                                                                                sponsorships, team-riders…

What is the most exciting aspect of your work?

The diversity of the job content, meeting new people all the time, the opportunity to travel, attend amazing international events and meet some of the world’s biggest boardsports athletes, spending a lot of time at the beach and in the mountains,and free clothing!

Would your classmates from school be surprised at what you’re doing now?

I don’t think so…from time to time my mother runs into someone and when she tells them what I’m doing they always respond in the same way, ‘I didn’t expect anything else’.

What school subjects were you good at and have any been surprisingly helpful later on?

I was really good at languages and it has helped me a lot actually. In my first job (Marketing Wrangler at European head office) English was very important.  I was the only Dutch-speaking person in the team and was responsible for communicating with all local (in country) marketing managers. After a while you actually start thinking in English!

In my current job I mainly use my mother tongue (Dutch) and French – Quiksilver head office is based in the south of France and the majority of the marketing team is French.

How did you decide what you wanted to do after school?

I always loved to write so after school I went to university to study Communication Sciences, planning to become a journalist.

But then along the way, I discovered marketing and after five years of studying, becoming a journalist didn’t even cross my mind anymore. I wanted to be in marketing / communications.

Initially I thought of working for an advertising agency but then the people from Wrangler called me. I went over and before I knew it I had this amazing first job as Marketing Assistant at the European head office. I got to be involved in all the marketing projects and it was the best way to learn and to find out what I do and don’t like!

If you went to university what was your university experience like?

Well, I had these images in my head of big classrooms where you could be totally anonymous and disappear in the crowd and the first year was exactly like that and I loved it!

But overall it was a great experience: you gain independence; meet new people; discover all this knowledge; and if you’re lucky you really find out which road you want to take career-wise.

What was the proudest moment of your life so far?

Job-wise, I guess when I got the job at Quiksilver. I still consider myself quite young and I didn’t think I would get such an opportunity at this point in my life, so when they called to make me an offer I was really like YEAH!

What advice would you give someone still at school who wants to do what you’re doing now?

I never had a clear plan in my head, I just wanted to do something fun and exciting and ideally in a nice and cool company for a sexy brand so I’ve been really lucky!

I guess the only advice I can give is that you need to feel good about what you’re doing and do what you really want to (I never applied for a job that I didn’t want 200 per cent.  Motivation is SO important) and aim high!

Can you give us a link for more information?

www.quiksilver-europe.com / www.roxy.com

When your exams are fast approaching and your ‘to-do’ list doesn’t appear to be getting any shorter, it can be hard to know where to even start when it comes to revision. Our friends over at TheSite.org have given us their Top Tips on revision, to give you a helping hand when you need it most!

What’s the best way to revise?

- Different students swear by different approaches, but in every case your best bet is to set out a revision plan.

- It’s never too early to suss out how much work you have to cover. Establish how much time you have available between now and the exams, and then draw up a realistic timetable.

- In working out how much time you should devote to each subject, try to concentrate on your weaknesses without losing sight of your strong points.

So I’ve set a revision plan, what next?

- Stick to it! That way you can keep track of how much work you’ve done and what you have left to cover.

- Choose a place in the house to revise where you won’t be distracted.

- Also make your family aware of the fact that you need some peace and quiet during this time, so they know not to disturb you.

- Switch revision between subjects to avoid becoming bored of a single topic.

- Look for fresh sources of info other than class notes. The internet, for example, offers some innovative learning resources.

- Set yourself up with a ‘reward’ after every revision session. Nothing extravagant, just a small treat to help you get back to your books.

- The most effective way to approach a revision session is to focus on understanding rather than memorising.

How do I cope when the exams get really close?

- Avoid last-minute revision the night before.

- Instead, complete your revision plan early, then relax for the rest of the day.

- During this time, don’t focus on passing or failing. If you’ve kept to your revision plan, and you’re calm, the answers will come naturally.

- Just before the exam itself, don’t go ‘testing’ yourself on specific questions, and when you finally sit down avoid rushing into things. Read the whole paper.

- Fingers-crossed you’ll pass. But failing doesn’t mean you’re a failure in life. It simply means you didn’t manage to make the grade in a particular subject – this time around.

What are the common problems that candidates face?

- Putting off revision, finding excuses to do other things or leaving all the work until the last minute. The fact is the more you delay, the more likely you are to get into a stew and panic.

- Unless you stick to a sensible revision timetable, there’ll always be a tendency to think negatively. In this situation, many believe they’re somehow unable to revise or are destined never to get the results they want.

- Some people are also terrified of disappointing their parents. Often this is a self-imposed pressure, while others feel their folks have expectations which exceed their own. If you feel as if your Mum/Dad are on your back, then talk to them. Clear the air to clear your head.

- Perhaps the biggest problem surrounding revision and exams is stress. It can make even the most ardent reviser think they can’t remember anything and even lead to panic attacks.

So how should I deal with exam stress?

- Try not to be frightened of exam stress, but to see it as a positive force - after all, it keeps you on your toes mentally, and can help you focus on the task in hand.

- Learn to recognise when you’re stressing out, and understand its causes. Often, a break or a chat with someone who knows the pressure you’re under will get things into perspective.

- Avoid comparing your abilities with your mates. Everyone approaches revision in different ways, so just make sure you’ve chosen the method that works best for you.

- Panic is often triggered by hyperventilating (ie quick, shallow breaths). So if you feel yourself losing it during the exam, sit back for a moment and control your breathing.

- Steer clear of any exam ‘post-mortem’. Learning how other people got on can lead to worry about under-achieving.

- Ultimately, don’t lose sight of the fact that there is life after exams. Things might seem intense right now, but it won’t last forever.

Thanks to the test-laden education system, young people are increasingly resorting to cramming for exams to ensure good results.

This may work for you if you have a
good short-term memory, but what if you need to remember the stuff weeks and even years after the exam?

So, what’s the solution?

Exams doctor George Turnbull’s advice is simple: “Do not cram the night before an exam.”
He also suggests students who plan long four-hour study slogs are only fooling themselves. Such marathon efforts result in “only 10 minutes’ actual work being done”.
“Start with the 10 minutes you know you will do. Then have a 10-minute break and start again.”

Memory tips

Dominic O’Brien, eight-time winner of the world memory championships, whose books include How To Pass Exams, has this advice:

• Follow the five times principle: Read the information and try to commit it to memory immediately then review it 24 hours later. Read and memorise it again a week later, then again after a month. When you come to review it a fifth time after three to six months, it should stay in your long-term memory.”
• Good memory techniques include speed reading and note-taking.
• One memory technique for learning languages is “gender zones”. Visualise feminine nouns such as “la cantina” (cellar) in your home or home town; masculine nouns such as “il campo” (field) elsewhere.
• To improve speed reading, use a pointer such as a pen to trace along the lines as you read.
• Take effective notes, make mind maps from key words and crystallise original notes down to helpful reminders.
• If you learn something new, review it within 24 hours to help lodge it in your memory.

Your shout!

Do you think it’s safe to cram the night before an exam? Perhaps you have a good revision tip? Share your thoughts by posting a comment using the link below.

If you’re trying to memorise vocabulary, try putting it to music! Have a look at these ready-made tracks for GCSE French vocab on the website below. My mentees have found it really useful.

http://www.upbeatlearning.com/

Revision tips

Everyone hates revision right? But when exams loom, and beyond them lies a career, revising is key. Let’s face it, reading through pages and pages of scribbled notes are going to get you nowhere. And don’t even get us started on the highlighters.
Make your revision fun, and when we say fun we really mean easier. That way you spend less time convincing yourself to do it and it’s all over a little bit quicker.
Some of the usual advice is worth following. Structure your notes, plan regular breaks and give yourself some time off. There’s no point running out of steam on day one. And as tempting as the night before sounds, start revising with as much time to spare as you can.

Learning styles
When it comes to good revision it all depends on how you go about doing it. Your sister may have been able to read a page once and remember it forever but forget about her, what works for you?

Are you a seer, a hearer or a doer?

This may sounds like long-haired hippy nonsense but it isn’t. Seers (or visual learners) benefit from images instead of pages of words. Stick posters around your house (the mirror or on the fridge are two good places) – the more you see them, the more likely you are to remember them.

Hearers (auditory learners) remember notes by reading them out loud, or from hearing them – pester a family member or friend to sit with you and read your work to you (boring for them, beneficial to you, win/win).

Doers (tactical learners) learn by practice, practice, practice. Understanding what it is exactly that you are trying to study is one way to drum it into your memory.

If you have no idea which you are? Try them all.

Diet
Revising may be boring, but how you revise is only one part of getting a good grade. What you eat is vital to how your brain works.

Snacking on crisps and sweets may sound like the best idea but really isn’t. Junk food has been found to block the passage of messages between the nerve endings in your brain, all those hours studying for nothing.

Instead try a handful of nuts or berries, both contain Omega3 and will keep you active and focused.

Like you’ve been told a million times before, breakfast is actually the most important meal of the day. Sugary cereals and toast will give you a short buzz and then you’ll be hungry again. Porridge is great because it releases its energy slowly and the milk you use with it provides protein which will aid your concentration levels.

Lastly, drink lots. Keeps you focused and awake, making lots of trips to the toilet is 100 times better than sitting there staring blankly at the screen and learning nothing whilst dying of thirst.

For the original version of this article and more insights into surviving the build up to going to uni visit http://www.push.co.uk/Revision-Tips

How should I revise? Where should I start? How often should I be revising? Help!

Revision tips
Revision can certainly be a pain. But if you get on top of it, stay organised and even start learning some things you didn’t know before, it can actually be a pleasure. Here are some tips on how to do that:

• Make a revision timetable for the study leave period, try to stick to about two subjects per day.
• Be realistic, it’s much better to learn small bits thoroughly than skim read a whole topic without taking much in.
• Break your revision into small bite size pieces, topic by topic, and then sub-sectioned.
• Try and use a learning style which suits you – whether that means sticking post-it notes around your room, creating revision cards or drawing diagrams.
• Set yourself mini goals and reward yourself when you have completed them – no cheating!
• Have a list of all the sections you need to cover and tick them off – it’ll be so satisfying as the list gets smaller and smaller!
• Ask your teacher for some past exam papers and test yourself to find out which areas you need to focus on more, as well as familiarise yourself with the format of the examination papers to expect.
• Whatever you do, DON’T leave revision to the last minute – you are not going to be able to cram two years worth of syllabus into the night before an exam, so plan ahead, prioritise and work hard – you’ve got the whole summer to relax after all!

It’s that time of year when many of you are up to your eyes in revision and the stress is mounting up. Never fear! We’ve put together some useful ideas to try to help you make it to the summer.

Exam stress

Think about what’s stressing you the most. Your anxiety may only be coming from a couple of subjects. Try to identify and focus on those subjects to try to solve it. If you’re thinking, ‘what am I doing this for?’, then take a look at the subject section here on icould.com. It will give you lots of interest insights into how studying a certain subject has helped people in their future career. BBCbitesize and s-cool have some excellent subject specific revision resources.

Talk about your worries with a parent, teacher or friend. Often other people can see a solution more clearly. You could also consider thinking about breathing exercises or set relaxation time after your revision session or before your exam. Don’t stop doing your normal activities around exam time. Physical activities are an excellent way to refresh your body and mind when you’re feeling stressed.

Try to keep your normal sleep pattern as much as possible and avoid caffeine drinks, which can heighten your stress levels. As far as possible, try to stay in control. Plan your revision sessions, know your exam timetable, check you have all the necessary equipment and leave yourself plenty of time to get to each exam.

In the exam

Read the exam paper carefully, taking particular note of how many questions you are required to answer. Analyse carefully the precise wording of the questions. Tick the questions that you intend to answer and make a rough mental timetable of how long you will spend on each question.  If you’ve had a go at some past papers before this will help you feel confident about the format of the exam. Try to stay focussed and calm. When you leave the exam don’t over analyse things, particularly if you have another exam coming up soon after.

Good luck and remember that there are hundreds of people on icould.com that have got through their exams and gone on to study further or get a great job.