DHA exam preparation tips: eight habits backed by research on how memory works

Tip 1: Test yourself before you reread

Trying to recall an answer strengthens memory more than reading the same page again. Studies by Roediger and Karpicke found that testing produced better long-term retention than extra study. In practice, close the notes and answer questions first. Read afterwards to fix gaps. See active recall versus rereading.

Tip 2: Space your revision

Reviewing a topic several times over weeks beats reviewing it once for a long time. A large review by Cepeda and colleagues supports spacing for lasting recall. Plan each subject to come back at least three times before exam day. How spaced repetition works shows a simple schedule.

Tip 3: Review every mistake

A wrong answer is the most useful thing you collect. Write the rule that would have given the right answer and the reason you chose the wrong one, such as misread stem, knowledge gap or rushing. Look at the notes every few days. The guide to building an error log has a template.

Tip 4: Practise in the exam’s style

The exam is computer-based with multiple-choice questions, and we practise them in a single-best-answer shape, which is our own planning format. Practise that shape so the format is familiar and you spend your attention on the content. Use scenario questions and read the lead-in first.

Tip 5: Practise under time

Sources report about 150 questions in about three hours for nurses, though figures vary, so check the current DHA guideline. Divide the minutes you are given by the questions to find your pace, then do timed sets weekly. The page on time management for long exams explains how.

Tip 6: Protect your sleep

Sleep helps consolidate what you learned. Diekelmann and Born reviewed the evidence on the memory function of sleep. A late night of cramming costs more than it gains, especially in the last week. If you work nights, see the guide on studying on night shifts.

Tip 7: Plan by subject, not by hours

“Study two hours” is vague. “Do 20 infection control questions and review all the explanations” is a task you can finish. List subjects, score your confidence and give the weakest the first slots. Use the study plan guide to pick a length.

Tip 8: Settle your nerves in writing

Ramirez and Beilock found that writing about test worries just before an exam helped performance in classroom tests. Their studies had students write for about ten minutes just before the test, and the benefit was clearest for students who were highly anxious about tests. Ten minutes of writing in your own time, such as the evening before, is a low-cost habit worth trying. It is an adaptation of that finding, and it does not replace practice.

What these tips cannot do

Research on learning describes averages, and it was mostly done with students, not licensing candidates. These habits improve how well your study time works. They do not predict an outcome, and they do not replace checking the current exam rules with the authority.

How the DHA exam preparation tips fit into one week

You do not need to do everything every day. A simple week might look like this: on three days do a mixed set of twenty questions and review each explanation; on one day do a timed set of forty; on one day revisit your error log and redo the questions you missed; keep one evening free for rest. The mix covers testing, spacing, review and time practice without making your week unmanageable, even beside a full shift pattern.

Where to start if you only have a little time

If your weeks are already full, begin with tips one and three: answer questions from memory and review every mistake. Together they take no extra equipment and fit into twenty minutes. Add spacing by putting the same subject back into your plan a few days later. Add the other tips as your routine settles, one at a time, so that none of them becomes another task you feel guilty about.

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