Studying for Exams

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This is a guest post from Michael, over at The Paperweight.

Image courtesy of sashamd

Almost no one likes them, but every student has to take them. Studying for exams is never really easy because you basically either know enough to pass or you don’t. But by putting a little thought into how you study, you can make your studying if not easier, at least more productive.

Know what to expect

One of the most obvious ways to prepare for an exam is to find out what it will be like. Make sure you know whether it will be essay, multiple choice, or a combination of different formats. Find out what period of the course it is going to cover.  Each different professor and each subject will have different types of exams and knowing what you’re preparing for is essential to proper preparation. Put special effort into this process for the first exam of each course before you are familiar with the instructor. Make a point to get in touch with your professor, whether it’s in person or via email, just so you know what to expect when exam day rolls around.

Start early

As soon as you have any idea what the exam is going to be about, start getting ready. Don’t wait; start as early as you can. Even if you don’t have a lot of time to put into it, just do a little bit reviewing. Reviewing the material over a long period of time will not only make the last days and hours before the exam a lot less stressful, it will also help cement the material into your brain far better than last minute cramming ever would.

Organize your notes

Another study method that I find particularly helpful is to rewrite and organize my notes. This works especially well if you are preparing for an essay type exam, but it can be helpful no matter what kind of exam you are preparing for. Simply processing the material one more time will ensure that it is fresh in your mind. It’s also a great time to review textbooks and even fill in any gaps in your knowledge. If my professor gives out a study guide before the exam, I like to refer to it to organize my reviewing.

Flashcards

Never forget the power if flash cards, especially if you are studying for a subject like science, language, or even history, when you need to remember names and dates. Sometimes the process of condensing the material down so that it fits onto a small card is so beneficial that it’s worth the effort even if you don’t end up spending that much time reviewing the flashcards after you have created them.

Environment

As your preparation comes down to the final hours, and there is little time to waste, choose your location carefully so that you aren’t interrupted or distracted. Some people study best with a group of other people to promote accountability and make sure everything gets covered. That may work for you, but personally I study best when I’m in a quiet place all by myself. The choice is up to you, but make sure that you find the atmosphere that allows you to study most productively and try to make the most of it.

No matter what you do to study, don’t let yourself get stressed out. Don’t give in to the nagging worries about the upcoming exam, just focus on doing what you can to prepare yourself. One of the best ways to keep the stress factor to a minimum is to plan ahead and keep up throughout the whole semester. That way you don’t have to play catch-up and you can focus entirely on what you need to do to get ready. Keeping an level head and bringing up your confidence can do far more for your exam scores than extra nights of studying.

Thanks, Michael!

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