The start of exam season has prompted the Communications & Marketing team to find ways to help you achieve success on your exams. We thought an interesting parallel emerged when comparing study tips to the training marathon runners engage in before the big race, and hope that this comparison will aid your exam performance.

Running 26.2 miles sounds daunting, but is it as daunting as preparing for that exam that is worth 60 percent of your final grade? If you assume that running a marathon is on equal footing on the “Jitter-O-Meter” as taking a final, then it would be safe to assume that you can prepare for an exam in a similar way to preparing for a marathon. Here are some training parallels that can boost your performance when preparing for final exams:

Run (study) enough, but not to the point of exhaustion

A crucial mantra that is surprisingly dismissed by both marathon runners and students is “Stay healthy”. It is counterproductive to train or study so hard that your health is compromised – taking an exam while sick or tired is comparable to running a marathon while injured. Remember: Best to be feeling rested and eager, even if slightly underprepared, than losing all motivation due to running or studying too much.

Create a training (study) schedule, and try to follow it closely

Marathon runners usually build a training schedule that covers as many different aspects of the race as possible. This includes varying miles per week, working on running speed and including at least one long run per week – with recovery days present. Similarly, you can plan a study schedule that covers the different topics that will appear on the final exam, varying the days you will study each section. Include ‘rest days’ in this schedule as to not get overwhelmed. Remind yourself that a schedule is supposed to help and not be a source of stress if you find that you miss a planned day of studying.

Running (studying) smart is key

Newcomers to marathons might think that training hard seven days a week is a prerequisite for success at the finish line. Experienced runners would advise differently, underlining the concept of ‘smart running’: Four-time-a-week runners ran just as well as runners that trained six days a week and covered 20 percent more miles in a study at the University of Northern Iowa. Approach studying similarly by devoting most of your time and efforts on topics that you know will appear on the exam or feel less confident about. If you try to cover every detail of the material, you might find your time not being adequately employed.

There is no preparation without mental preparation

The body can only help you so much when you face the nervousness of running your first race, hitting the dreaded ‘wall’ (when your pace or performance drops near the last miles of the marathon) or asking yourself just what are you doing running 26.2 miles in the middle of the race. These mental roadblocks can also surface when you are writing your exam. Overcome them like a runner would. Recall what it is that you like most about the task at hand, visualize yourself feeling proud when you turn the exam in – there are many possibilities to help keep your mind on track, just don’t forget to keep on writing the exam!

We hope these training parallels will help you deliver your best in your exams, and the C&M team wishes you the best during exam season! How do you prepare for your exams? Share your advice with the Pharm Sci community in the comments section.

-Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing

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