So, it's exam time again – have you done the necessary work to get good marks? Sleeping with the textbook under the pillow in the hope that knowledge will be magically absorbed into your brain as you sleep doesn't work. The best strategy is to space your practice out, rather than cram it all together. It means hit the books early!

In an article in the British newspaper The Guardian, Tom Stafford, a lecturer in psychology and cognitive science at the University of Sheffield, UK, advises: "If you organise five hours of study into one hour a day, you'll remember more than if you study for five hours on one day."

Don't rely on memory alone – get pen and paper and start working. Students who can test themselves in advance will be better at retrieving material from their memory and learn that material in the long run. John Dunlosky, Professor of Psychology at Kent State University in the US, suggests that "you start by reading a textbook using your favourite highlighter and favourite colours, but then you go back and make flashcards of all the critical concepts and instead of just rereading those, you basically try to test yourselves on them."

Good revision should give you confidence, but if you are still anxious, there's no harm in indulging in a personal ritual. In Japan, it seems to be a tradition for students to eat Katsudon before a test. This is a warm bowl of rice topped with egg and a deep-fried pork cutlet. The name of the dish reminds people of the word 'katsu', meaning 'winning'.

For some students in South Korea, the key to success is not washing their hair before sitting an exam because they believe they could wash all the knowledge out of their head. And in different parts of the world there are always those who swear by their 'lucky underwear'.

The bottom line is that you need to study, sleep well on the eve of the test, eat a nutritious meal, drink plenty of water and believe that your efforts will pay off. Good luck in your exam!
词汇表
mark 分数
textbook 课本，教科书
strategy 策略，行动计划
space your practice out 把做练习的间隔时间距离拉开
cram （考前）突击学习，死记硬背
hit the books 学习，做功课
lecturer 讲师
cognitive science 认知科学
retrieve 搜索、获取
highlighter 荧光笔
flashcard 抽任卡
critical concept 关键概念
ritual 老规矩，仪式，习惯
sit an exam 参加考试
nutritious 营养丰富的
pay off 取得成功，取得好结果