Exam Prep Tips
Practical, evidence-based tips for UPCAT preparation.
- 1.Sleep at least 7–8 hours — your brain consolidates memory during sleep
- 2.Eat a real meal. Low blood sugar = slow thinking.
- 3.Arrive early. Rushing spikes cortisol and kills focus.
- 4.Don't cram the night before. Review lightly, then stop.
- 5.Practice with a timer weeks before — not the night before.
- 6.Lay out your ID, pencils, and everything the night before.
Exam anxiety is real. Here's what actually helps.
It's not just nerves. Exam anxiety can physically slow your thinking and blank your memory.
- ✓Simulate exam conditions during practice — pressure in practice = calm on exam day
- ✓Box breathing when panic hits (4 in — 4 hold — 4 out)
- ✓Reframe: tell yourself you're excited, not scared
- ✓Preparation is the only real cure. The more you've practiced, the calmer you'll be.
"This is exactly why mock exams exist."