tips for studying for exams
(In any of your classes)
1. Make a Game Plan
2.Get Organized
Are you the type of person who organized his or her binder "chronologically"? Or perhaps you threw four different subjects into one folder. This is the time to sort and organize your materials together by unit or concept so that study guides will be easier to complete.
3. Study Aids
Choose one or more of the following techniques to help you review material for each class.
Make FLASHCARDS to help you study terms, dates, equations, and key concepts. You can do this using physical note cards, or an online tool like Quizlet.
COMPLETE YOUR STUDY GUIDES. If your teacher gives you a study guide, try to complete as much as you can without using any notes or extra help. Star material you couldn' t answer and review that more before the exam.
REVIEW OLD STUDY GUIDES. If you kept completed study guides from previous units, use those to help you study for the final exam.
USE WEBSITES LIKE THE MUSTANG WRITING CENTER. If your teacher provides you will online practice exercises, tests, and quizzes, take advantage of them and start studying a few weeks before the exam. Do not wait until the night before.
Try the "HIDE-WRITE-COMPARE" TECHNIQUE. After you have finished learning a particular subject and have written down all relevant terms and definitions, try covering up your notes and rewriting everything by heart. When you are finished, look at your notes again and compare what you have written. If what you produced by heart is accurate, then you will know that you have a good grasp on material.
USE REPETITION. Repetition is one of the most popular study methods. It involves going over information again and again through reading, writing, or repeating aloud. You should still test yourself after reading or writing something repeatedly to make sure you truly remember the information.
OUTLINE YOUR NOTES.
HAVE MOM OR DAD QUIZ YOU. If you're studying at home, have mom, dad, grandma, a sibling, etc. quiz you on the information you're studying. It's easier to remember information you're quizzed on than just reviewing on your own.
Study information in this order: 1. Information that will definitely be on the exam. 2. Information that will probably be on the exam. 3. Information that might be on the exam. Don't just start from the beginning of your notes and try to cram everything. Think about what you KNOW will be on the exam and review that material first.
EXPLAIN THE MATERIAL TO SOMEONE ELSE. Once you feel you have a good grasp of the material, ask someone else if you can try explaining the material to them. If you can explain the material in a way that the other person (who hasn't studied the subject) can understand, without getting confused yourself, you probably know your topic well. Another option is to work with a classmate and take turns being the "teacher" to teach information.
* By putting the information into your own words and without using the aid of notes for help, you are committing the knowledge to memory.
* Being able to explain the information to someone else proves that you actually understand the information.
STUDY BEFORE BED. Instead of reading your usual bedtime story, try studying for a few minutes right before falling asleep. During sleep, the brain strengthens new memories, so there's a good chance you'll remember whatever you reviewed right before dozing off.
TELL A TALE. Turning details you need to remember into a crazy story helps make the information more meaningful.
SPACE IT OUT. Break up information into small chunks and review them consistently over a longer period of time. Don't try to memorize a large concept in one sitting. Learn a little bit every day.
TEST YOURSELF. Write your own final exam test questions. Write an entire test using information you think will be on the test. Wait a day or two and go back and take your own test.
WRITE IT OUT. Research suggests that we store information BETTER when we write it out by hand than when we type it. Start by recopying the most important notes onto new paper.
SHOUT IT OUT. Reading information out loud (to yourself) means mentally storing it in two ways: seeing it and hearing it.
CREATE YOUR OWN STUDY GUIDE. While your teacher might give you a study guide, creating your own can hlep you understand the material better. Outlining the important information you need to learn can be helpful.
ASK QUESTIONS. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to explain a concept you have forgotten or never quite got the first time. That's what Encore periods are for!
ORGANIZE A GROUP STUDY SESSION. Sometimes it can be helpful to study in groups....if you trust your friends and won't become distracted. Online tools like ExamTime, Think Binder, and Google + are good places to start.
COLOR CODE IT. Create a system that allows you to color code material that's going to be on the exam by what's most important, less important, etc.
VISUALIZE. If you're a visual learner, creating pictures, diagrams, or maps could help you see how the concepts you are learning relate to one another.
SWITCH IT UP. Don't stay focused on one subject for so long that you can't stay awake. You'll be able to study longer and prevent burnout by switching up the subjects you study after a certain period of time.
MAKE IT FUN. It's easier to complete many of these study techniques if you make goals and reward yourself for a job well done. For example, you could award yourself 5 min. of free time after every chunk of material you study. Eat a piece of chocolate or drink a sip of coffee for after you've finished a chapter.
4. Get prepared mentally and physically
MOVE AROUND. Research suggests studying the same stuff in a different spot every day makes us less likely to forget that information. Every time we move around, we force the brain to form new associations with the same material so it becomes a stronger memory.
WORK IT OUT. Research has found that just half an hour of aerobic exercise can improve our brain-processing speed and other cognitive abilities.
LISTEN! Music can help beat stress. Classical music in particular has been shown to reduce anxiety and tension. Quietly playing classical music in the background may help you stay calm and focused while you study.
OWN THE OMEGAS. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in certain fish, nuts, and olive oil, are known for their brain-boosting potential. Eating a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids before exams can reduce test anxiety. Eating a healthy breakfast the morning of an exam is always a good idea.
TAKE BREAKS. Balance is key - balance free time with study time. Avoid cramming the night before a test.
STAY WELL-RESTED. Make sure you are well-rested so that you can be fully focused during exams. Get at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
Works Cited
"How to Study for Finals." How to Study for Finals | Study. The Princeton Review, n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
Hoyt, Elizabeth. "20 Study Strategies for Finals Week." Fastweb. Fastweb, 20 Oct. 2016. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
Lebowitz, Shana. "22 Science-Backed Study Tips to Ace a Test." Greatist. N.p., 22 Jan. 2016. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
- Plan out study sessions for each of your exams. You may want to spend more time on the subjects you struggle with the most.
- Start a schedule a few weeks before your first exam and figure out how much time each day you want to devote to each subject.
- Use the calendar on your phone or computer to set alerts and reminders for yourself so you stick to your plan.
- Make sure you are realistic about how much time it might take you to memorize information --and schedule time for breaks.
2.Get Organized
Are you the type of person who organized his or her binder "chronologically"? Or perhaps you threw four different subjects into one folder. This is the time to sort and organize your materials together by unit or concept so that study guides will be easier to complete.
3. Study Aids
Choose one or more of the following techniques to help you review material for each class.
Make FLASHCARDS to help you study terms, dates, equations, and key concepts. You can do this using physical note cards, or an online tool like Quizlet.
COMPLETE YOUR STUDY GUIDES. If your teacher gives you a study guide, try to complete as much as you can without using any notes or extra help. Star material you couldn' t answer and review that more before the exam.
REVIEW OLD STUDY GUIDES. If you kept completed study guides from previous units, use those to help you study for the final exam.
USE WEBSITES LIKE THE MUSTANG WRITING CENTER. If your teacher provides you will online practice exercises, tests, and quizzes, take advantage of them and start studying a few weeks before the exam. Do not wait until the night before.
Try the "HIDE-WRITE-COMPARE" TECHNIQUE. After you have finished learning a particular subject and have written down all relevant terms and definitions, try covering up your notes and rewriting everything by heart. When you are finished, look at your notes again and compare what you have written. If what you produced by heart is accurate, then you will know that you have a good grasp on material.
USE REPETITION. Repetition is one of the most popular study methods. It involves going over information again and again through reading, writing, or repeating aloud. You should still test yourself after reading or writing something repeatedly to make sure you truly remember the information.
OUTLINE YOUR NOTES.
HAVE MOM OR DAD QUIZ YOU. If you're studying at home, have mom, dad, grandma, a sibling, etc. quiz you on the information you're studying. It's easier to remember information you're quizzed on than just reviewing on your own.
Study information in this order: 1. Information that will definitely be on the exam. 2. Information that will probably be on the exam. 3. Information that might be on the exam. Don't just start from the beginning of your notes and try to cram everything. Think about what you KNOW will be on the exam and review that material first.
EXPLAIN THE MATERIAL TO SOMEONE ELSE. Once you feel you have a good grasp of the material, ask someone else if you can try explaining the material to them. If you can explain the material in a way that the other person (who hasn't studied the subject) can understand, without getting confused yourself, you probably know your topic well. Another option is to work with a classmate and take turns being the "teacher" to teach information.
* By putting the information into your own words and without using the aid of notes for help, you are committing the knowledge to memory.
* Being able to explain the information to someone else proves that you actually understand the information.
STUDY BEFORE BED. Instead of reading your usual bedtime story, try studying for a few minutes right before falling asleep. During sleep, the brain strengthens new memories, so there's a good chance you'll remember whatever you reviewed right before dozing off.
TELL A TALE. Turning details you need to remember into a crazy story helps make the information more meaningful.
SPACE IT OUT. Break up information into small chunks and review them consistently over a longer period of time. Don't try to memorize a large concept in one sitting. Learn a little bit every day.
TEST YOURSELF. Write your own final exam test questions. Write an entire test using information you think will be on the test. Wait a day or two and go back and take your own test.
WRITE IT OUT. Research suggests that we store information BETTER when we write it out by hand than when we type it. Start by recopying the most important notes onto new paper.
SHOUT IT OUT. Reading information out loud (to yourself) means mentally storing it in two ways: seeing it and hearing it.
CREATE YOUR OWN STUDY GUIDE. While your teacher might give you a study guide, creating your own can hlep you understand the material better. Outlining the important information you need to learn can be helpful.
ASK QUESTIONS. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to explain a concept you have forgotten or never quite got the first time. That's what Encore periods are for!
ORGANIZE A GROUP STUDY SESSION. Sometimes it can be helpful to study in groups....if you trust your friends and won't become distracted. Online tools like ExamTime, Think Binder, and Google + are good places to start.
COLOR CODE IT. Create a system that allows you to color code material that's going to be on the exam by what's most important, less important, etc.
VISUALIZE. If you're a visual learner, creating pictures, diagrams, or maps could help you see how the concepts you are learning relate to one another.
SWITCH IT UP. Don't stay focused on one subject for so long that you can't stay awake. You'll be able to study longer and prevent burnout by switching up the subjects you study after a certain period of time.
MAKE IT FUN. It's easier to complete many of these study techniques if you make goals and reward yourself for a job well done. For example, you could award yourself 5 min. of free time after every chunk of material you study. Eat a piece of chocolate or drink a sip of coffee for after you've finished a chapter.
4. Get prepared mentally and physically
MOVE AROUND. Research suggests studying the same stuff in a different spot every day makes us less likely to forget that information. Every time we move around, we force the brain to form new associations with the same material so it becomes a stronger memory.
WORK IT OUT. Research has found that just half an hour of aerobic exercise can improve our brain-processing speed and other cognitive abilities.
LISTEN! Music can help beat stress. Classical music in particular has been shown to reduce anxiety and tension. Quietly playing classical music in the background may help you stay calm and focused while you study.
OWN THE OMEGAS. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in certain fish, nuts, and olive oil, are known for their brain-boosting potential. Eating a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids before exams can reduce test anxiety. Eating a healthy breakfast the morning of an exam is always a good idea.
TAKE BREAKS. Balance is key - balance free time with study time. Avoid cramming the night before a test.
STAY WELL-RESTED. Make sure you are well-rested so that you can be fully focused during exams. Get at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
Works Cited
"How to Study for Finals." How to Study for Finals | Study. The Princeton Review, n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
Hoyt, Elizabeth. "20 Study Strategies for Finals Week." Fastweb. Fastweb, 20 Oct. 2016. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
Lebowitz, Shana. "22 Science-Backed Study Tips to Ace a Test." Greatist. N.p., 22 Jan. 2016. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.