There is one thing that any student can avoid in his academic life - exams. This time is a serious stress for students from all over the world since day one. Since you can't avoid it, you should prepare for exams at your best. This article will teach you how to study for exams effectively and easy.
Setting the Foundation
Review your syllabus. First of all, you should know your syllabus well. This is the schedule which every student should know to control his study. So just figure out when each of your exams is scheduled. Note these dates in your calendar or something and set the eye contact. Your review sessions should start at least a week before each exam. Try to make several study sessions without pushing the limit in one big and exhausting exam study session.
Pay attention in class. It is very important to be attentive while your teacher is telling you something. It may sound too simple, but lots of students forget about this simple rule. It is really important and a helpful tip, if you want to be prepared for your exams well and not miss a thing. Just try to listen attentively to each phrase of your mentor while studying, because there is always something important that can be a vital point on your exam later.
Take good notes. Yes, it may sound too easy, but it is a tough task to write every single word down on each of your classes. You can try to learn more about how to take better notes and use it later in your study and life. Of course, you can use your smartphone and record the whole study session, but it is harder to use audio than written information.
Make studying a part of your habits. Lots of students often do not take studying seriously. They got used to getting done everything at the last minute. Such an attitude affects their grades and even health. Doing multiple tasks on the night before the exam is a tough thing to deal with. So, try to make studying your habit and do not think about it as a routine.
Ask about the exam format. Do not forget to prepare the format of the exam. This may cost you a good grade if you will come unprepared or will have some inappropriate tasks learned.
Optimal Environment is the Key
Find a clean, quiet and orderly place. Often the place you are studying and living in determines your exams and the entire life results. Avoid distractions such as friends and relatives. The Internet also can be a great distractor so try to focus on your exams with avoiding any social networks or even blocking them.
Turn on the light. Darkness is not the best environment for your studying. If you are studying at the day time, you should get as much natural lighting in your room as possible and turn even additional lamps while preparing your exams at night.
Music or silence? Here is the deal. Lots of students think that studying and working with music on (sometimes very loudly) helps them not to get bored while studying their exams. Sometimes it is right, but mostly music is the same type of distractor as the TV or the Internet. If you really like to study with music, consider it is not too loud and try to listen to something more appealing to learning the new material. Of course, every person is a unique and heavy metal can work for one person better than classical music, but you should listen to it only if it does not distract you from your main task.
Organizing Your Studying Process
Get a goal. Like any other task exams studying also needs its goal. Set it, and your learning process will be more concentrated. And we are talking not just about the global goal as A for Math. Start with just simple and narrower goals in a certain period of time. For example, you can set a goal or a list of goals for a week.
Rewrite your notes. This tip is a nice point for those students who learn better while writing. While you are noting every teacher's word, you do not have too much time to think about the whole case. So rewriting your notes would be the helping stage if you want to remind the most interesting and informative points from your classes.
Ask yourself questions. This is another interesting method of self-training to the exam like notes rewriting. Do not try to answer with the same words you have read in your notes or book. Give it in your own way, but with a proper info based on your answer.
Studying Effectively
Find the right hours. It is a bad idea to start studying or continue doing that when you are tired and fed up with everything else. Try to figure out what hours works for you best and schedule your exam studying process at that exact time every day. Sleep well. Of course, you are a student, but exam period is a tough time, and you should try to make it a prior point in your schedule.
Start as early as possible. This advice is one of those every "how to" article likes to give, but still, it is very useful. Starting early is really a good thing for any case and studying for your exams is not an exception. Start learning something early and then you will have time to repeat it over and over again getting a better result on the exam day.
Think of your teacher. You should know your teacher well. Try to figure out what kind of person he or she is and what teaching style he has. Think what topics are his favorites and what questions he will ask you. Such knowledge will help you to focus on some most obvious points that your teacher likes.
Ask for help. It is always a good idea to ask for help if you have any troubles. Do not be ashamed or afraid. There are for sure friends of yours who will help you to learn some certain topic, or you can deal with it together. Also, you can ask for help from professionals online.
Take breaks. It is very useful to take brakes after long studying sessions. The longer your study session was, the longer break should be. This will help you to restore your potency and proceed with studying. Some experts advise having five-minute breaks after thirty minutes of studying.
Positive thinking is the key. Self-confidence is very important in any case. Do not focus on such things as the volume of the material you need to learn or how complicated the task is. Think of more positive points to keep yourself motivated all the time.
Preparing Yourself for Test Day
Sleep the night before. It may sound too obvious, but lots of students take it to the limit and fail their deadlines. As a result, their sleepless night may cost them a good grade or even cause exam fail. So take our advice we gave you before and started your studying for exams as early as you can and then have a good nap the night before the exam.
Get a snack. It is a vital thing for your stomach and brain. If your exam is going to be a long one, you should get something with you to eat and feed your brain.
Tips that Will Help You Be a Better Student
The main thing about being a good and successful student is not just attending all classes. This is a must, but not enough for real success. You should study and do it good to have a nice result that will positively affect your future. So, here brief points that will help you become a really successful student.
- Make a schedule
If any of your tasks is going out of your control, you should get it scheduled. This is the perfect method for getting things done right and split your energy in a proper way. Hang it on a wall or set on your smartphone for better control.
- Discipline
Get your stuff together and do not distract from some inappropriate points. It is very important for you, especially before the exams, to be disciplined. If you do not want to spend a sleepless night before your exam, you better work hard and focused before the deadline.
