The first HSC exam is only a few days away and an overseas researcher said students should think like athletes to prepare for the nearing exams.
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A mixed reaction among experts, UK education expert Professor Stephen Heppell said students should adopt principles of sports science to help them reach their peak performance on exam days.
Athletes know exactly what to do on game day; drinking, eating and sleeping in a way that allows their body to be pushed to its limit.
However, Wagga nutritionist Peta Adams argued that this was not clear and she would not compare exam preparation to the lead up to a sport’s event.
“I think this is a very vague concept and I wouldn’t compare them on the same level,” Ms Adams said.
“Students need to be achieving adequate sleep, engaging in physical activity and we know that carbohydrates fuel the brain.
“This includes foods that offer a slow release of carbohydrates, like fruits, cereals and dairy foods.”
Ms Adams advised students to regularly eat in moderation in order to stay focused, as too much of anything is bad.
“We know that carbohydrates fuel the brain, but only in moderation as they should not be consumed in excessive amounts,” she said.
However, CSU’s Dr Melissa Skein, in exercise science, said there are key principles in exercise science that could be transferred over to exam preparations.
“Preparation is the key to both an athlete’s event and a student’s exam; being able to prepare physically and mentally in the lead up will allow them to achieve optimal performance,” Dr Skein said.
“Quite a lot of research shows that while teenagers are recommended to sleep between seven to 10 hours, many students are not meeting these recommendations.
“Sleep is important for memory consolidation, recovering and physical aversion, therefore sleep is the foundation during sport and also leading into the HSC exams.”
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Like Ms Adams, Dr Skein also highlighted the importance of keeping a balanced diet and engaging in physical activity.
“Nutrition is also key too and links to performance, health and the immune system,” she said.
“Having a healthy and balanced diet will fuel the body for an event or a mentally demanding event, like an exam.
“There have been strong links with engaging in physical activity as a form of alleviating stress and anxiety and supporting people with mental health issues.
“Some students continue their exercise regimes during exams and others take up some forms of exercise, like study breaks of walking the dog or kicking the footy,” Dr Skein said.
While eating and hydrating correctly and ensuring students have enough sleep, Dr Skein said taking time out is equally as important for students as it is for athletes.
“They need to have that balance within their life, either to prepare for study or to train and that ability, in a science or athletic term, to recover and take those opportunities to switch off,” she said.