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Exam time is a stressful and tiring time. Nights leading up to the exam are usually filled with studying and pulling all-nighters at the library and, sometimes, you may just be unsure about how to approach studying for a particular class. Whether you like to plan your studying ahead of time or you don’t think about the exam until the last minute, here are 5 testing tips to help you ace those tests.
- Prioritize. In college, there might be times when you have to study for several different classes. It can get overwhelming and stressful. In these cases, prioritizing your workload can be helpful. Dedicate more time studying for an exam that can make or break your grade rather than an exam that won’t affect your grade very much. Once you have strategized your studying, be sure you are reviewing only content that will be on the test and you are not wasting any time by studying irrelevant content.
- Review with others. Reviewing with others can be a great way to study for the exam, and oftentimes there will be review sessions provided by the professor. Many will focus on topics that will be covered heavily on the test, which can be helpful in deciding what to study later. Reviewing material with other students can also be helpful. You can teach material you’re confident in, which will make you understand the topics instead of just memorizing them. In turn, your classmates may help you pick up on material you are unsure of. If you are studying with friends, try to stay on topic and don’t study with friends who are not studying for the same exam as it can only lead to distractions.
- Study smart. Do not try to reread the whole textbook before the exam. Even if you can get through the book, it can be information overload and it will be hard to remember all of it. Hopefully, you have kept up with the reading throughout the semester so you can go back over your notes instead of attempting to read the book. Skimming through notes can also help you find topics you’re not confident with.
- Take breaks. Taking breaks during your study sessions is a must. A good study session should consist of 45 minutes of studying followed by a 15-minute break. This method gives you a mental break and it can help you stay focused since you just need to study for 45 minutes. Eat a healthy snack, take a walk, or talk to friends and you will come back to studying refreshed. Eating and drinking water regularly helps fuel your brain and exercising can help clear your mind.
- Be prepared. Before you go into your exam, pack everything you might need. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated as well. Dress in confortable layers so you are prepared for varying temperatures in your testing room. Head into the exam early so you are not in a rush and stressed out before you even start the testing process.
Exams can be exhausting and full of anxiety but they can be manageable by studying smart and being prepared. These tips can help you go into the next exam with confidence.
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About today’s guest blogger: Priya Sudendra is a recent graduate of University of Colorado and a staff writer for CollegeFocus, a website dedicated to helping students deal with the challenges of college, including housing, finance, style, health, relationships, and transferring from a community collegeto a four-year university.
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