Set a specific start time

Always set a specific start time to ensure that you allocate enough time to studying. This is useful in ensuring that valuable hours which could be spent learning are not wasted.

Be flexible and move on if necessary

Avoid setting a specific time period to spend on each subject area. This is so as the mind is dynamic and in 30 minutes you may find yourself having a firm grasp of material that you allocated two hours to. If this happens, move on to what you actually don't know because spending extended periods of time on material you have grasped is pointless.

Clarify unclear concepts

It is to your benefit if you can identify something you don't know or understand. Some students conveniently avoid subject areas or concepts which they don't understand or have difficulty with. If you can identify a subject area which you don't understand, tackle it head on. Approach it with a purpose and talk or reason your way through it. If you still cannot understand it, ask a friend or a tutor. Once you have done this you may find that your understanding of the particular concept is much clearer.

Get past papers

The best place to start when studying for any exam is past papers. If you can get your hands on past papers of an exam and their use is permitted in your particular subject area, use them. Past papers provide you with an excellent grasp of the exam structure, they allow you to practice answering questions and provide practice at allocating time during an exam. Past papers are also an excellent tool for identifying a question pool of an exam.

Many exams are made up of questions which were on previous exams and are just mixed up and repeated. If you can familiarize yourself with the majority of the questions asked for a particular exam, you're guaranteed success. Getting past papers from 5 - 7 previous years should put you in a very comfortable position. The more past papers you can familiarize yourself with the better.

Take breaks when necessary

Some experts recommend that whenever one is concentrating, breaks should be taken every 15 minutes. This is impossible for some. Certain professionals like accountants find themselves working for hours on end without breaks. The frequency with which a person needs to take a break depends on the capacity and learning habits of the individual. Personally, I cannot stop every 15 minutes if I'm doing something.

You will be the best judge of when or how often you need to take a break, but it's best to take a 10 minute break to give the mind a rest if you feel overwhelmed.

Start your preparation early

Studying the night before or not studying at all may work for a blood test.

For all other serious exams, there is actually a point at which you are unlikely to grasp the necessary concepts fully if you have not started reviewing the subject content by then. Allowing work to pile up on you can lead to anxiety and will ultimately lead to poor performance. The best way to prevent this is to start revising early in order to move at a relaxed pace and allow sufficient time to review concepts in depth.