The following information and insights are shared in the hope that it will aid in some way this journey.
When you sit there with pen in hand, the exam paper in front of you, everything you need to successfully complete this exam is there with you.
No notes, no I phone/internet, no books, just you and this exam paper and of course there is your brain, your very own personal information storage and processing devise.
It may help you to think of your brain in this way as there are many similarities between how your brain manages knowledge/information and how your PC does it.
Learning is the equivalent of uploading or programming, your brain will remember what's important, repetition tells the brain that this information is required and needs to be retained. Your brain has absolutely no problem in retaining important, required information.
But why is remembering, recalling an issue for some?
The brain has a filing system, it records and stores information, grouped by association. the information relating to your family and home is linked by neurons in your brain as is each seperate subject. problems arise through poor file management.
I will choose one subject 'MATHS' to explain file management, please note that the same principles apply for all subjects.
You have studied maths, sufficient repetition and your brain has filed this away ready for the exam. Problems with recalling this file/memory occur when other information gets entered in the same file. If there is a negative relationship or issues with the teacher or someone in the maths class this impacts your mood and this gets linked by association and stored in this maths file.
How does this impact memory / recall.
One of the prime functions of your brain is to avoid, ignore and dismiss information in memory that makes you feel bad or stressed. Any piece of information and experience like boredom or conflict within the maths environment will be 'bookmarked' by your brain as not serving your best interests and so is to be avoided. In effect the maths file is contaminated with data that will block the flow of memory. Your brain will avoid recalling maths due to its negative associations.
How do you avoid this?
Self awareness. Take personal responsibility for how you manage your study and your relationships. Do not let the rights and wrongs of negative issues stand in the way of the college place you want, the career and lifestyle you aspire to. If there are issues to be addressed, get them resolved as you prepare yourself for the best possible outcome at exam time. The next insight to enhancing memory would take a whole research thesis to explain, so I won't.
The mood you are in has a direct effect on quality of flow from memory/recall. Remember, if you have studied it, it is in there. A calm, cool, positive mood is ideal for ease of flow. low mood is like a dial up internet connection, calm cool and positive is like high speed broadband.
Stress/anxiety.
If this is an issue for you then get advise and guidance. A certain level of stress is to be expected, high stress levels will undermine recall. It takes energy and mind-space to process stress, your brain needs this energy and space to attend to processing exam related information. Get stress out of the way and your memory will flow better.
Focus / Attention.
It goes without saying that this is important when studying, it is even more vital when doing exams. In the hour preceding the exam it is important to not preoccupy your mind with activity unrelated to the exam subject. what you are focused on will be primed in your brain. If it is the exam subject then when the clock starts you are ready to go, if not, lets say you are in a deep conversation about last weeks concert, then when the clock starts it will take up to twenty minutes for your brain to bring exam knowledge to the fore of your memory. The best use of the preceding hour is to use it to relax and only entertain thoughts of a positive outcome.
Your Relationship to each subject.
How you feel about each subject will determine how well you remember the required information relating to it. Any negativity or regular thinking about a subject you dislike of hate is, in effect programming your brain to avoid this information. At the unconscious level your brain will treat any information that makes you feel bad as unimportant to your needs and is to be avoided - avoid means poor recall. You should already be familiar with performing well in your favourite subjects, for all subject and the points you need, work on developing a positive feeling towards it, do this and you will remember/recall better.
Last but not least.
Your brain burns up a lot of energy when working hard. Avoid going into an exam hungry, it will put a strain on you and your brain.
Your brain is the most advanced information processor on the planet, have confidence in it and yourself.