Though it may be too late in the school year for students to begin practising attendance there may still be enough time to master the art of studying.

With the upcoming exam period approaching most students on the Island will be feeling varying degrees of anxiety. The good news is that with a few simple preparation techniques students can learn to keep their anxiety levels down and their grades up.

When studying it is very useful to know yourself. Every one is different when it comes to studying, some people can concentrate while the music is blaring, while other people need complete silence.

Student Jason Wade admits that there must be silence when he studies. ?I go to the library, where it has to be quiet,? he said.

It is recommended that you consider the best time and place for you. Think about whether you find it easier to concentrate first thing in the morning, last thing at night or somewhere in between.

Then pick a place where you know you will not be distracted, for instance consider a library rather than your living room. It is also helpful to know a little about how your mind works.

There are the lucky few that hear something once and can remember it eight months later, for the rest of us putting in time and energy is the only way to get the desired results. If you are a visual/verbal learner concentrate your time on taking detailed notes and writing information down.

For student Ruth O?Kelly Lynch this method works best when absorbing a large amount of information. ?I take notes whenever I do readings,? she said. ?It?s the only way that I remember things.?

It is also essential over the next few weeks to manage your time properly.

Though cramming may seem like an effective study method the fact remains that it will only allow you to memorise materials for a short period of time, increasing the likelihood of forgetting key information.

?Try and divide everything evenly,? suggested student Nikki Clarke. ?Don?t spend too much time on one subject.?

There are always subjects that you will need to devote more attention to, but a balance is very important when studying for multiple subjects. Spending three weeks on one subject and cramming right before the exam for another is a recipe for disaster.

The reason that cramming the night before an exam often fails is that the price is a loss in crucial sleep.

It is recommended that you finish studying the day before, get a good amount of rest and allow the information time to seep in. In the morning do a quick review just to help refresh your memory.

It is often a good idea to make a check list. Write down important social and academic activities, prioritise assignments for school and set aside an amount of time for studying.

Keep referring back to the list throughout the day and before you go to sleep each night make sure that you have completed your goals.

If you have reached your goal of studying for three hours or completing two chapters of notes it is suggested that you provide yourself with a small reward, whether that be your favourite television show or a dessert. The reward will give you incentive and help you to continue.

Student Mikaela Cannonier believes that there is strength in numbers when it comes to effective studying methods. ?It helps to study with a group of people because more brains are better than one,? she said.

Studying in a group is often an effective way to gain understanding. Each group member must be responsible for a set of questions or chapters and becoming an expert. The individual must then teach the information to the other members of the group.

It is recommended that group members type out a summary of their information so that other members can revise later on. Working with others will allow you to ask questions and gain additional perspectives and may also save vital time during these next few weeks.

The most important tip while studying is to remain calm ? stressing yourself to the point of a headache will accomplish nothing. Just breathe and do the best that you can to prepare.