Studying for an exam can feel like a never-ending cycle of reading, highlighting, making flashcards, and rereading. It’s tough to know where to start or how to stay motivated. However, with the right plan in place, it's possible to get things done efficiently and effectively.
The following five tips will help you prepare for your next exam in the smartest way possible. From understanding how your memory works to making sure you have enough time during the day to study, these tips are designed to make studying less stressful and more successful. Ready? Let's get started.
How to prepare your brain for studying
You have to have a plan. The best way to get the outcome you want is to know what outcome you're trying to get. What are your needs? Do you need to know how to solve for X? Do you need to know how to understand the history of the Black Panther Party?
Knowing what outcome you want will help you have a plan to get there. It will also help you focus on the task at hand, instead of getting hung up on all the other things you could be doing.
When should you start studying?
The best time to start studying for exams is also the most dreaded one: Just before the exam.
But there's no need to panic! This means that you can take advantage of all of your available resources, like the resources inside your textbook and your teacher's notes, to help you study. The closer you are to the exam, the more likely you are to retain information.
This time period can be a productive one, but it's important to know when to take breaks so you don't feel overwhelmed by the workload. Find out how much time you should study each day to ensure you're making progress.
At the same time, it's important to have a plan in place for when your studying ends. You don't want to be studying right up until the exam because this will leave you feeling exhausted. It's best to study for about an hour each day for a total of about 3-4 weeks before your exam. That leaves room for one final week of review before your exam day.
Study in small chunks
Make time to study in short increments. Studies show that people can better recall material if they study in short, consistent bursts rather than one long, all-day stint.
Plus, it's easier to stay focused on your studies when you're not trying to drag them out. If you find yourself getting bored or frustrated, take a break.
A 10-minute study session here or there won't set you back too much in the long run. What's more important is the quality of your time spent studying.
Write everything down
The human brain has a limited capacity to store information. This means that we can only store a certain amount of information in our memories at one time. This is one of the reasons we forget things we studied.
Writing down your notes and reviewing them helps you remember and retain more information for your exam.
When you study, try to write down what you learn in some way, whether it's using a laptop, paper, or a memory app. Then, review your notes periodically throughout the week before the exam to make sure you know everything.
This is a great way to avoid last minute cramming!
how to prepare for exam in 20 days
Tip One: Understand how your memory works.
Many students use the "spacing effect" to remember material. This means that if you study one day, cover the material, and then come back to it later, you'll find that you can remember it more vividly.
Tip Two: Make sure to take your time.
It's easy to rush through an exam study plan, feeling like you're accomplishing something. However, it's better to take your time and make sure you're not forgetting anything.
Tip Three: Set aside time for studying every day.
Studying one hour every day is much more effective than putting in six hours of studying on the day before the exam.
Tip Four: Use your downtime to study, too.
If you're waiting for the subway or dozing off in class, use that time productively! Working on your study materials will help keep your mind fresh.
Tip Five: Practice!
Practice makes perfect! The more you practice, the more confident you'll be when it comes to test time.
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