How to study for exams
Kristina Calvird
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: How To Guide
So, you have one night to cram in an entire semester's worth of material, what do you do? We all know studying and keeping on school material should be done on a constant basis, but for some reason we all leave it to the very last minute. We're college students, what do you expect? Although based on the type of exam and the method you study best may vary, here are some tips on how to survive the dreaded week of finals.
Budget Your Time
It's not the amount of time you study; it is how effectively you study. It's better to fully understand the topics you are reading than to skim past everything, study for hours on end and not remember a thing. If you have the time and are willing to study, multiple studies reveal it's better to study for 30-45 minutes with 10 minute breaks. This gives the brain time to soak up everything you just learned before moving on to the next material.
Read Questions Carefully
Usually multiple choice exams have at least one throw away answer. Make sure you read the entire question carefully so you know exactly what is being asked. After ruling out options, make your best judgment. After completing your exam don't change answers. Your first answer is usually correct.
Go on instinct.
Alright, you've done everything you could and you still have no idea. The question might as well be written in a foreign language. So how do you choose an answer? Statistics show that more often than not, correct answers are either
B or C. So take a guess.
Other Tips
Make sure you eat before a test. Having food in your stomach will give you energy and help you focus, but avoid heavy foods which can make you groggy and sleepy. Chocolate has also been proven to improve cognitive performance. So go grab a candy bar from the vending machine.
Don't try to pull an all nighter, get at least three hours of sleep before the test. Your brain needs time to rest. Also, pulling an all nighter increases the chances of you crashing in the middle of the day. No one wants to fall asleep in the middle of taking an exam.
Don't try to read four entire chapters in one night, it's not worth it. Start by looking over class lectures and notes, then start looking over the book. Professors often only touch on certain concepts in a chapter. Professor will also tell you what areas are most important, start by studying these.
Be prepared for exams. This includes brining a pencil, eraser, blue book, or cantron to class. Make sure to use the restroom also, you don't want nature calling in the middle of your exam.
Last but not least, make sure you have the correct time and class number for your exams. You don't want to be running late and walk in the wrong room. After staying up all night studying, your mind can play tricks on you.
With these tips, exams should be a breeze. Good luck on finals.
Budget Your Time
It's not the amount of time you study; it is how effectively you study. It's better to fully understand the topics you are reading than to skim past everything, study for hours on end and not remember a thing. If you have the time and are willing to study, multiple studies reveal it's better to study for 30-45 minutes with 10 minute breaks. This gives the brain time to soak up everything you just learned before moving on to the next material.
Read Questions Carefully
Usually multiple choice exams have at least one throw away answer. Make sure you read the entire question carefully so you know exactly what is being asked. After ruling out options, make your best judgment. After completing your exam don't change answers. Your first answer is usually correct.
Go on instinct.
Alright, you've done everything you could and you still have no idea. The question might as well be written in a foreign language. So how do you choose an answer? Statistics show that more often than not, correct answers are either
B or C. So take a guess.
Other Tips
Make sure you eat before a test. Having food in your stomach will give you energy and help you focus, but avoid heavy foods which can make you groggy and sleepy. Chocolate has also been proven to improve cognitive performance. So go grab a candy bar from the vending machine.
Don't try to pull an all nighter, get at least three hours of sleep before the test. Your brain needs time to rest. Also, pulling an all nighter increases the chances of you crashing in the middle of the day. No one wants to fall asleep in the middle of taking an exam.
Don't try to read four entire chapters in one night, it's not worth it. Start by looking over class lectures and notes, then start looking over the book. Professors often only touch on certain concepts in a chapter. Professor will also tell you what areas are most important, start by studying these.
Be prepared for exams. This includes brining a pencil, eraser, blue book, or cantron to class. Make sure to use the restroom also, you don't want nature calling in the middle of your exam.
Last but not least, make sure you have the correct time and class number for your exams. You don't want to be running late and walk in the wrong room. After staying up all night studying, your mind can play tricks on you.
With these tips, exams should be a breeze. Good luck on finals.
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