By the time finals roll around, your time is precious—every minute counts. Which is why scheduling is essential during the weeks (er, days) prior to exams. So as not to go totally bonkers during this stressful time, make a realistic study schedule for yourself, too. Leave yourself time for breaks—you’ll be taking them anyway—and be sure to prioritize according to which class you’ll need to study for the most. The syllabus is one of the most important papers your professor will give you. Hold onto it! Use it when you’re studying for your finals as a sort of outline. [2] X Research source It may also make it clear what topics your instructor finds interesting and important—certain topics may pop up more than others and those are definitely the ones to crack down on.
Go through your notes and highlight major vocabulary words and concepts (in different colors!). Manipulate the material to your liking. Create charts and index cards to help yourself study. Make cards in different categories—some for terms and/or concepts, some for formulas, and some for specific quotes from reading assignments.
Take turns explaining terms and concepts to each other. Odds are if you can explain it to someone else (and they can follow), you have a good grasp on the material and that’ll show up on the exam.
Or, rather, scope out nice areas (yep, that’s plural) to study. Believe it or not, several (again with the plural) studies have found that if you switch up your environment while learning, retention is increased. Somehow, magically, keeping your brain surrounded by new stimuli makes the information more interesting and therefore easier to remember. So if you get antsy, listen to your gut and find a new armchair to sink into.
Magically, chocolate is starting to be deemed the new “super fruit. " It’s high in antioxidants and healthy plant compounds, even more so than most fruit juices. [5] X Research source [6] X Research source So don’t feel guilty about grabbing your dark chocolate bar when you hit the study room. You may actually be doing yourself a favor.
Write summaries. If you have to learn for science or history, you need another system of learning. Make a summary for each chapter and learn it. Use mnemonic devices. Why did the US enter WWI? Duh, everyone knows that’s because of SPRENCZ. [7] X Research source What’s SPRENCZ? Uhh, Submarines, Propaganda, the Russians, Economic ties to Europe, violations of Neutrality, Cultural ties with Britain, and the Zimmerman note, obviously. With the device, it’ll jog your memory and you can easily expand in essay form. If you make study cards, recite them out loud. It’ll help you remember. Reading the cards silently is too passive. Carry them around with you and go over them when you find yourself with a bit of free time.
According to the Dartmouth Academic Skills Center, you should study in 20-50 minute increments and give yourself a 5 to 10 minute break between each session. For best results, study throughout one full week. [8] X Research source Rewarding yourself with a treat after finishing a task will make your study sessions more fun and help you stay motivated. [9] X Expert Source Ronitte Libedinsky, MSAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 26 May 2020.
That original Mozart study was done on young adults, not babies (so you’re in luck!). And while the music by no means made the participants smarter, it did increase the brain’s alertness for about 15 minutes afterward. When the study was extended, it showed that any music (so long as the participant enjoys it) can stimulate the brain, not just Mozart. And, in fact, getting up and running around or doing jumping jacks can do the same thing. So whatever it is, find a way to get your brain jogging.
You know how musicians practice with a mix of scales intertwined with actual pieces and rhythm practice? And how athletes never do the same drills two times in a row? They’re doing what you should: using a panoply of skills in one session. Your brain will be more impressed.
Have each student prepare for the practice session by bringing in a couple of practice questions or prompts (maybe what they find the most confusing). Together, the group will work through the answers, solving each person’s most burning questions. However, don’t take a group mentality and get off track though! And make sure everyone shares accurate information; otherwise, the whole group will get lead unintentionally astray.
Cramming isn’t worth it. This is known as a “freshman trick,” meaning that good, veteran students learn very quickly that it is futile. What you may gain from extra study time won’t compensate for the loss of alertness and ability to concentrate due to lack of sleep.
Avoid the temptation to hype yourself up on caffeine. It may just make your more anxious. Stick to your normal breakfast—your routine will be comforting.
When we intend to remember without having confidence that we can remember, the intention is weakened into mere hoping. The memory strengthens as you lay burdens upon it and becomes trustworthy as you trust it. Try to form the habit early on of relying on your memory before referring to your written reminders.
