In the physical world, practice or conditioning is how we become physically fit and a master of our chosen sport.

Would you expect to learn how to play tennis, for example, without practice? Would you expect to become a competitive gymnast without practice? Would you expect to be able to learn an instrument without practice? Then why do the majority of students expect to do well in exams without practice?

What I'm about to say is extremely important so pay close attention... "exams really test how well you've practiced doing exams!". Can you understand the importance of this statement? It can totally change the way you study for exams, just like it did for me.

There's a huge difference between studying for exams and doing exams. By doing exams or practicing exams you'll actually be studying for exams. However, by studying for exams you won't necessarily be practicing exams. Get your head around this and it'll make a huge difference to how you study and the results you get in your exams.

The bottom line is, your knowledge will be assessed in the exam and although you may have the knowledge, if you aren't able to reproduce what's required in the exam, then your assessment will be a reflection of your exam abilities and not your knowledge.

Einstein was a good example of this. Even though he was a genius, he was considered a poor student because he couldn't pass the college entrance exams!

I know of no other way to be good at something than PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

Practice in sport is also called physical conditioning, a process in which you:

- Build up your physical strength

- Develop your physical reflexes

- Increase your cardiovascular fitness

All these factors will have a direct effect on your ability and success as a tennis player for example.

In the same way you have to condition yourself mentally for the sport of exams. After the skills needed to study for, and tackle, exams have been identified, you have to practice and develop them until you've mastered them.

This mental conditioning process will:

- Build up your mental strength by reducing fear and anxiety and increasing confidence

- Develop your mental reflexes i.e. the "question / answer reflex"

- Increase your mental fitness by improving your performance in exams

The majority of "How To Study" books available don't show you how to practice all the skills involved in studying for exams. Your study system should be comprised of a step by step technique involving the practice of those skills. Use it and become a mental athlete.