Anxiety, the feeling that your brain is overloaded with information, that apprehensive memory block as you look upon the last test of the semester. These can be a real struggle for students to deal with, and to some extent can be expected around exam time. There are, however, some tricks you might not expect to help you through this overwhelming and exhausting time we’ve come to know as finals. Whether the issue is lacking the ability to recall information you’ve studied or overcoming that fight or flight feeling to stay in your seat and get the exam done, these five unconventional tips can help to enhance your test taking ability by boosting your brain power and memory so that your grade actually correlates with all your hard work and preparation.

Rosemary

By using what psychologists call the olfactory system to study, odors can help to associate what you’ve learned to those smells paired with the event. Specifically, smelling a sprig of rosemary or a drop of the plant’s oil as you study and again as you test can help reactivate those memories you thought you lost during stress and cramming. Though the herb is most often thought of in terms of cooking, psychologists have dubbed it the “remembrance herb” as it has been found to be highly effective in long-term memory retention and mental arithmetic. A little rosemary aroma goes a long way when it comes to sharpening your mind for test day.

Classical music

Classical music isn’t just for those with powdered wigs, but in fact might help with what’s underneath. In a recent case study performed by Skyline student and early childhood education major Gabriela Saucedo, findings suggest this to be especially true. After asking two groups of participants to read the Oct. 6 Legislative Update, one group having listened to classical instrumental music and the other not, students recited what information they could recall back to Saucedo afterwards.

“The students who listened to the music while reading gave 75 percent more detail than those who did not listen to music while reading the article,” Saucedo said.
So, avoid that test day brain fart with some Mozart while you study.

Walnuts

Not only do walnuts look like brains, but they can actually help with strengthening your brain functions and cellular development. In a recent study published by DementiaToday where the effects of ingesting walnuts has on learning skills, anxiety, and memory were analyzed, findings suggest that daily consumption of 1 to 1.5 ounces of walnuts, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and other minerals, may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a condition that affects the human memory. Even better, you don’t have to have AD to reap the benefits. Add walnuts to your morning yogurt before a test to help you from going nuts on your exam.

Clenching your fist

When we think of people who are under stress, frustrated, or even upset, we usually can picture them with clenched fists as we see in most cartoons. Although the same feelings can come up during finals, it’s an unlikely picture to see students doing the same in class. In a study published by scientific journal PLOS ONE, those who struggle with recalling memory should actually be doing just that. According to their results, “Individuals who encoded language-based information immediately following right hand clenching (left hemisphere activation), and recalled such information immediately following left hand clenching (right hemisphere activation), demonstrated superior episodic memory.” There really is a method behind putting your dukes up when it comes to fighting for that passing grade.

Use your mind’s eye

Though this may be the last tip, visualization certainly isn’t the least, as it is highly considered in learning circles to be one of the most powerful techniques for increasing memory of mundane or boring facts. By using visual bright, vivid colors or objects to correspond to terms, events, or people you may need to remember, you can ensure more success in recalling that information. Another aspect of visualization that can aid with test anxiety is what athletes call “shadow training.” When injured, athletes will review their moves in their head as a way to remain fit and return to their sport just as strong as they were before, if not stronger. By being a brain athlete and visualizing a positive test taking experience move for move prior to your exams, you can reduce stress and increase success the day of.

Let’s face it, because school is challenging we can use all the help we can get. So why not use all your five senses?