The 369 Method for Exams and Studying

Exam goals suit this method because the outcome has a date on it. These twelve sentences are written for studying, recall and the way you sit in the room itself.

Twelve sentences for this goal

Four for each phase. Pick one from the phase you are in and write it three times in the morning, six in the afternoon and nine at night. Full routine is in the 369 method guide.

Clearing

• I release the old story that I freeze under pressure
• I am safe as I allow myself to be well prepared
• I let go of the tension I hold in my body before an exam
• I release the pressure I carry around proving myself

Building

• What I study stays with me and returns when I need it
• I read the question slowly and the answer comes clearly
• My mind is clear, steady and quick under time pressure
• I finish with time left to check my work

Receiving

• I wrote the exam with a clear head and a steady hand
• I passed with the score I needed and it feels natural
• I am the kind of student who walks in prepared and walks out calm
• I give thanks for the result that arrived in perfect timing

How to write yours for an exam

Write for the score and the feeling in the room, not only the pass. "I passed" is the floor. "I passed with the score I needed and I was calm while I wrote it" targets the part that actually costs students marks.

Keep studying while you write. This practice is a supplement to revision, not a replacement for it. The sentences work by changing what you do with your attention — which pages you open, how early you start, whether you do a second pass.

Start the cycle early enough that the 33 days finish before the exam. If your exam is in three weeks, start now and let the cycle run past the date rather than cramming the practice into the final days.

Three mistakes that stall this one

• Writing only in the last week. Starting the practice at the same time as the panic makes it feel like another thing to do. Start it weeks out and it reads as support.
• Writing about the rank instead of the work. "I am first in my class" is someone else's result. "I remember what I studied and I write it clearly" is yours.
• Swapping sentences every time a mock goes badly. One bad paper tells you what to revise. It is not a signal to throw away eleven days of familiarity.

How long, and what to do when you miss a day

Write for 33 days. If you miss one, carry on at the day you are on — do not restart and do not double up. More on the timing is on our how many days page, and if you would rather have all 33 written for your exact goal, use the start page.

Frequently asked