For a student, taking an exam is like the Olympics for Joseph Schooling.
You trained long and hard for 4 years just to prepare for that few weeks.
In the weeks leading up to the big event, apart from just revising, you also need to keep your health in check. Falling sick just days prior to your A level exams would be a catastrophe.
One way to keep the doctors away (apart from eating an apple a day), is to keep your nutrition in check. For us at VANTAGE TUTOR, we are not just looking to keep ourselves in the pink of health, we also want to have a diet that enhances our performance during the exams - legally, of course.
(Follow @vantage_tutor on Instagram to get video updates whenever a new article is released)
Table of Content:
Fuel Your Brain
For 2 years, I was an avid runner. I ran 2 full marathons and 1 competitive 10km within the span of 1 year. I understand how important it is to fuel your body with the right food to ensure peak performance.
It is no different for exams as well.
There are many foods out there that can give your brain something extra and light those bulbs up much faster.
Such food are known as "brain food" and examples include:
1. Proteins – meat, fish, eggs, poultry, nuts and seeds, dried beans and lentils, and soy products.
2. Antioxidants – fruits and veggies, particularly berries and pomegranate juice.
3. Omega-3 – oily fish like salmon and cod, flax seeds and flax oil.
This food can easily make up the menu of breakfast at the dawn of your exams!
Not only will you have a hearty breakfast, you will also be eating the right breakfast to ensure your brain processes information effectively.
Back to Table of Content
Improve Energy Level
We all know your A level and O level exams are mostly in the morning. It is therefore, incredibly important to also consume food that boost your energy level.
"Staying Alive~"
Based on experience, you would know that carbohydrates give you more energy and indeed it does. But you would also know from experience that carbohydrates is the main reason for your "Lunch Coma".
Carbohydrates are so quickly digested and absorbed such that your blood sugar falls quickly. It will make you feel fatigued and we don't want "lunch coma" to strike while we are in the middle of doing an organic synthesis question.
Here are some food to help you improve your energy without making you sleepy: 1. Oatmeal 2. Eggs 3. Chicken 4. Beans 5. Walnuts (Personal favorite to snack on while doing revision)
Back to Table of Content
Improve Short-Term Memory
A significant number of you have a memory of a goldfish.
"I learned so much from you! It's so hard to remember them all! >.<"
-famous quote from my RGS girl
Remembering and retaining information is essential for exams. This is especially so for science subjects such as Chemistry and Biology.
Another way food can help us during exams is by enhancing our ability to remember and retain key information. You don't want to forget all your reagents and conditions for organic chemistry.
Foods that contain "good fats" are known to aid in memory. These food contain unsaturated fats. You should consider consuming fish that contain omega-3, avocados, nuts, and seeds. Also, remind mummy to cook your food with vegetable oils such as olive, canola, and sunflower.
This is because good fats promote electrical signaling between nerve cells, allowing the brain to communicate quickly and easily. It is also believed to improve level of concentration.
Back to Table of Content
Improve Attention & Focus
Careless mistakes are usually the reason why students fail to achieve their expected grade. This complacency and lack of attention towards fine details is going to cost you.
Thankfully, there are foods which are known to aid in our attention span and ability to focus:
Fatty fish
Green tea
Coffee
Chocolate (Yes, you heard me right)
Many of this food contain omega-3, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or caffeine that promotes alertness and helps you focus. However, do not overload on food like chocolate.
Don't be that guy or girl.
Back to Table of Content
Maximize your chances
Exams are important and you should maximize your potential and chances of getting that elusive distinction for your H2 Math & H2 Chemistry (Wink). Apart from studying the right way, we can also eat the right food to improve our academic performance.
We, at VANTAGE TUTOR, have struggled and walked through a similar path to students when they were students themselves. We understand the trouble and problems you would face in the lead-up to your exams. We would direct you toward the right path and prevent your journey from going awry
So hesitate no more, contact us today!