How to Improve Your Focus and Concentration for Better Exam Performance

Many students sit down to study only to find their minds wandering. Difficulty concentrating affects academic performance more than most students realize.

Focus is a skill that can be developed and strengthened. This guide covers practical methods to improve concentration and make study time more productive.

Why Focus Matters

Poor concentration leads to spending hours on tasks that should take minutes, reading without comprehension, lower exam scores than your knowledge warrants, frustration with studying, and rapid forgetting of material.

Good focus makes studying faster, easier, and more effective.

How Your Brain Handles Focus

Your brain can only focus on one task at a time. Multitasking is a myth. When you try studying while checking WhatsApp, watching TV, or listening to loud music, your brain switches between tasks constantly. Each switch consumes mental energy and reduces effectiveness.

Every distraction drains your mental resources.

Improving Your Concentration

Create a Distraction-Free Study Environment

• Remove your phone from the study area
• Close unnecessary browser tabs
• Inform family members you're studying
• Use headphones to block noise
• Keep only necessary materials on your desk

Use Timed Study Sessions

The Pomodoro Technique works well for exam preparation:

1. Study with full focus for 25 minutes
2. Take a 5-minute break
3. Repeat four times
4. Take a longer 15-30 minute break

Knowing a break is coming makes resisting distractions easier. Twenty-five minutes feels manageable even for difficult subjects.

Tackle Difficult Subjects First

Your concentration is strongest at the beginning of study sessions. Use this fresh mental energy on challenging subjects. Save easier topics for when you're somewhat tired.

Take Genuine Breaks

Breaks should rest your brain, not just shift focus to different screens. During breaks: stretch or walk, drink water or eat a snack, look outside or close your eyes, do brief physical exercises, or talk with family members.

Scrolling social media doesn't count as a real break.

Prioritize Sleep

Tired brains cannot focus regardless of effort. Students who sleep 7-8 hours consistently outperform those who stay up all night studying. Sleep helps your brain process and retain learned information. Insufficient sleep wastes study time.

Eat Foods That Support Brain Function

Your brain requires proper fuel for concentration:

• Groundnuts and other nuts
• Bananas and fresh fruits
• Eggs
• Fish (mackerel, titus)
• Beans and protein sources
• Adequate water intake

Avoid excessive sugar and heavy meals before studying - they cause drowsiness.

Exercise Regularly

Physical activity benefits your brain significantly. Even 15-20 minutes of exercise increases brain blood flow, improves memory and learning, reduces stress and anxiety, improves sleep quality, and boosts mood and energy.

Simple activities work well: jogging, skipping rope, dancing, or any movement you enjoy.

Practice Active Learning

Passive reading doesn't fully engage your brain. Instead:

• Teach concepts to others
• Write summaries in your own words
• Test yourself with practice questions (use Ulearngo's JAMB CBT practice)
• Create flashcards for review
• Draw diagrams of concepts

Set Specific Study Goals

Vague goals don't work. Be specific:

• Ineffective: "Study math today"
• Effective: "Complete 20 algebra questions by 4pm"

Clear goals make maintaining focus easier because you know exactly what you're working toward.

Manage Technology Use

Technology helps or hinders based on how you use it.

Helpful technology includes practice apps like Ulearngo for JAMB preparation, timer apps for Pomodoro sessions, note-taking apps for organization, and quality educational videos.

Distracting technology includes social media during study time, phone notifications, random browsing, and group chats while working.

Quick Focus Recovery Methods

When you're already studying but losing focus:

1. Take 10 deep breaths
2. Drink cold water
3. Stand and stretch
4. Change your sitting position
5. Review why you're studying

Focus Killers to Avoid

Don't study when hungry - your brain needs fuel. Avoid studying in bed - your brain associates beds with sleep. Don't attempt long sessions without breaks - your brain needs rest periods. Keep phones out of reach - notifications will tempt you. Never try multitasking - it reduces productivity.

For JAMB and WAEC Preparation

When preparing for major exams, practice under timed conditions using JAMB CBT practice software. Simulate actual exam environments. Review mistakes immediately and use Lexi on Ulearngo when concepts remain unclear. Track your progress to stay motivated.

Building Focus Takes Time

Don't expect overnight transformation. Start small: practice 15-minute focus sessions initially, increase to 25 minutes after a week, add more daily sessions after two weeks, and notice improvement after a month.

Regular practice makes focused studying progressively easier.

Conclusion

Good focus comes from proper environment, effective techniques, and consistency. Top-performing students learned to focus their attention - you can develop this skill too.

Start with one or two techniques from this guide, practice them consistently, and observe your study sessions improve.