SCHOOL pupils are now back at their desks after the Easter break and a Worcestershire headteacher has revealed his tips for exam preparation.

Exam season can be difficult for people facing GCSE and A levels, a study by the National Union of Students found a shocking 90 per cent of students felt it be more stressful than they first thought while 83 per cent said time management was a problem.

Bryn Thomas, headteacher at Wolverley CE Secondary School, Blakeshall Lane, has been doing his homework to produce five hints to help students revise and prepare for their exams.

He said: “These tips will hopefully help all students make the best use of their study leave so they are fully prepared for sitting their first exam.”

The head’s five lessons for exam success are:

Put together an achievable revision timetable- Information is retained better if it is in short bursts, so plan a day to include 30 minute slots covering a mixture of subjects.

Study topics and not just subjects- It’s easier to retain information by studying a topic and not just a subject. For example, instead of spending 30 minutes on German history, spend 30 minutes studying Germany between the wars.

Take breaks- A great way of organising breaks is to see them as rewards, so a student may reward themselves with an hour of video games after they have achieved three hours of revision.

Use clever ways to retain information- Sometimes just reading text from a book will not help, instead try using flashcards with key dates, sums and phrases.

Look after yourself- A good night’s sleep, plenty of fluids and healthy food can help keep the brain active. It’s also a great idea to arrange with friends to have an afternoon off on the same day and meet up.