How to Study For Exams
Exams are a terrible and stressful thing to study for, especially knowing that they can make or break your final mark. Being able to study in the proper manner will achieve the best results, so make use of these tips.- Rewriting. Rewriting your notes is great if you're a kinesthetic learner. Also, when you re-write something, you will probably think about what you are writing, what it's about, and why you wrote it down. Most importantly, it refreshes your memory. If you took notes a month ago and just found out that those notes will be relevant in your exam, rewriting them will remind you of them when you need it for your exam.
- Find the right hours. Don't study when you're really tired. It's better to study for two hours in one day than to try and cram in that daily hour of studying at two in the morning. You won't remember much and you're likely to stop before you have studied what you need.
- Don't cram. Cramming the night before is proven to be useless, because you're taking in so much information at once that it's impossible to memorize it at all -- in fact, you'll hardly retain anything. I know it's been preached to you many times before, but it's true: Studying before and going over it multiple times really is the best way to learn the material. This is especially true with things like history and subjects dealing with theory.
- Subjects. If it's math you're studying for, work on the problems. Don't just read over it like you would for a history class, because you can actually do math, but you can seldom do history. Working problems out will help burn them into your mind, and remember: if you can't solve the problem before the exam, you won't be able to solve it on the exam either. If you are studying for a more social subject, do your research! Make sure you know what you're talking about!
- Surroundings. How do you study best? In your PJ's, or your favorite t-shirt? With music or without? In your room or outside? Regardless, you probably won't be able to study while there are distractions like:
- Your darling little brother or sister is running screaming around the house. You are going to end up watching movies because they are far too distracting.
- Your older brother or sister is bothering you on purpose.
- Your music is not relaxing, or is a song you want to sing along to instead of studying.
- It's too dark. Your eyes will strain in dim light.
- You're in a mess. Clean your room, as the mess around you really can distract you from what you're doing.
- Correct lighting. For men, try studying with a dimmer light (though not overly dim). Statistics say that 75% of guys that do this will focus better. For girls, it's indicated that 90% of the time, they study and focus better in a brighter room with little noise.
- TV. Some people like to have the TV on quietly in the background. This can cut both ways in that it can distract you from time to time, but also can help you to continue studying. It's a risky strategy to have the TV on: nobody really knows how much it takes away from your attention and may be distracting you more than you realize.
- Take Breaks. You need some time to have fun and it is better to revise when you are feeling relaxed than to exhaust yourself studying all day! The only caveat is, you need to avoid procrastination.
- Finding out who is writing the exam can be helpful. This way, you might be able to understand what sort of questions will be used ( i.e: short answer, essays, multiple choice, etc.)
- Asking teachers for help conveys your commitment to the material, and can be helpful in the future as well as with your exams.
- Sleep well before exams, so your mind will be alert before, after, and during the exam.
- Always be hopeful and don't doubt yourself.
- Remember this analogy: 'Study without ambition is a bird without wings'
- Study less, with more concentration, if possible.
- And if you are a memorizing person, or want to be, lecture to yourself (out loud) while also using your hands; this way it will be easier for you to memorize. Do a whole section, then move onto the next. Do this until you finish the whole of the chapter you're working on.
- The above tip is really effective, especially for a subject like social studies.
- do not learn before one day keep learning one subject 2,3 times
- Cheating won't solve your exam problems. Getting good grades that were earned honestly will motivate you to study and achieve even more.
- Although some people find it a "good" idea, drinking absurd amounts of coffee, tea, or any other caffeine source is not a good move, especially on the day before the exam. You'll crash eventually and you'll feel groggy the day of the exam, almost guaranteeing an inferior performance.
- You should eat only as much as required. Try not to put stress on both your stomach AND your mind.
- Don't study only on the night before the exam.
- Don't depend heavily on the help of others.
- Don't be overconfident, always anticipate the hardest question, and then everything will seem easier.
- NEVER be late for exams.
- Avoid stress from other people, if at all possible.
- Start studying at least a week before the exam.
- Dont be to dependent on the teacher