In the final stretch before an exam, the instinct to cover every possible topic, be it from notes and textbooks, even untouched chapters, might feel productive. But diving into new topics just 10 days before your exam can be counterproductive. At this time, instead of learning new topics, your focus should be on reinforcing what you have already learned. Going through a new topic in the last few days can be overwhelming for your brain. And it can lead to more confusion, anxiety, and stress. In this blog, we will talk more about why you shouldn’t study new topics, and also how to manage your time and energy in the last 10 days before the exam for effective preparation.
What could happen?
Learning is a process that involves understanding, practice, and recall. New topics take time to sink in, and you will create confusion rather than improve your score, which leads to cognitive overload and loss of confidence.
What Could Go Wrong When You Study New Topics Late?
- Revision Flow Disruption– At this stage, your focus should be on revision, not exploration. Introducing brand-new concepts can break your carefully planned revision schedule.
- Increased Anxiety & Reduced Confidence– Wasting precious hours on unfamiliar material can leave you scrambling and unfocused. Forcing new knowledge into your brain right before exams can be overwhelming. You might find the new topic confusing or time-consuming, leading to panic and Self-doubt.
- Low Retention High Burnout– To understand and retain information only a few days prior to the exam date can be difficult. Your brain won’t get enough repetition to store that knowledge in long-term memory. You might forget it quickly, or mix it up with previously learned material and it will exhaust you and might create panic.
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What To Do in the Last 10 Days
- Build on your Strengths-
When time is pressing, reinforce topics you already know as much as possible, where you’ll score the fastest. - Patch Weaknesses-
Use this time to fix errors from past practice. Relearn already visited topics, not new ones. - Some Practice Every Day-
Every single day is important, so don’t waste any more time. Use past papers and question banks. Time yourself in exam conditions. - Flashcards/Mind Maps:
For quick revision and retention, understand topic complexity and give them priority accordingly. - Stay Balanced:
Eat well, sleep well, and maintain discipline, along with focusing on physical activities. A well-rested brain performs well. - Don’t Waste Time on New Topics:
Learning something completely new from scratch might take hours of reading, practising, and revising. Instead of this, the remaining time could be put elsewhere to get the maximum benefit of the remaining time. - Some things that you should do:
Consolidate topics with a high yield. It is time to consolidate, not to explore.
Practising previous years’ papers
Improve inaccurate points already studied
Practice questions and mock exams
- The Power of Review > The Panic of New Study
Research indicates that the act of reviewing learned materials has a far greater long-term retention effect than taking a glance at new material. Learning every single thing during the last few days can be time-consuming. Just focus on what you have learned and put it into examination conditions.
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Conclusion
The last 10 days are the most crucial time for examination. And the last 10 days’ preparation lies in your learning strategy, not time. Work on refining your understanding, practice regularly, and boost confidence through reviews and revision. Exams aren’t won by those who study the most topics, but by those who master the right ones. Trust your preparation, stay consistent, and give your brain the space to recall and perform. In these last ten days, work smarter, not harder.
