Studying for a final exam can be a stressful period, especially if you're struggling to find the time or the will to put in the necessary effort. However, managing stress and at the same time achieving high marks is very doable if you can find the right study techniques and routines. Here are some suggestions that can help you study effectively and efficiently.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Preparing to Study
Step 1. Know your goals
Before you start studying, it's important to know what your goals are. Set a target score for each exam and think about what you need to do to achieve that score.
- Be realistic. Consider how well you've accomplished throughout the year, how well you understand the subject matter and your window of study time.
- Don't set goals low either. Try to push yourself and set your mind to reach your full potential.
Step 2. Create a study plan
Creating an effective and realistic study plan is an important component of doing well on the final exam. By making a study plan, you can ensure that you will have all the materials you need when the exam approaches, minimizing stress and maximizing productivity. Here are some things to consider:
- Chart your current activity times. Include learning in class, work, time spent with family and friends, and so on. This will allow you to see how much free time you have for studying.
- Create a study schedule that fits your timing. Use the time between lessons, time on the go and other free time to slip in additional study sessions. Remember that an hour of study every day will be more productive than 5 full hours once a week.
- Define your study goals. You shouldn't just write a sketchy guide like "study biology," your study plan should be specific. Break down study materials into specific topics and tasks and fit them into your study schedule. Give yourself 20 minutes to understand the small, dense information and commit to the idea that you will know the information inside and out by the end of the 20 minutes.
- Stick to your schedule. Study schedules will be useless if you don't stick to them. That's why the schedule has to be realistic. Consider breaks and potential distractions when planning, so there will be no excuses when the time comes. If it helps, think of a study schedule like a job. You have no choice but to do it.
Step 3. Start studying well in advance
This may seem a little trivial, but the sooner you start studying, the better prepared you will be for the exam. Starting early ensures that you will have time to master the required material, time to practice the exam and perhaps time to do additional reading, which will give you an edge on test day. By starting to study well in advance, you will also feel less stressed and anxious and have more self-confidence.
- Ideally, you should make studying part of your weekly routine throughout the school year, not just ahead of exams. You should prepare for the lesson by reading the required material, along with additional reading around the topic of discussion. Engage with the teacher, ask questions about anything you don't understand and take long notes, as these will be invaluable study tools later. After the lesson, review the material and rewrite it or type in the rough notes you wrote during the lesson. This will help you to master the information much better when it's time for the exam.
- Don't delay. Everyone is guilty of procrastination at some point, but towards the end of the exam you should try your best to avoid it. Think of your study schedule as written in stone. By actually studying when you say you will, you minimize the risk of speeding in the week or night before the test. While it may be tempting to put off studying until the last minute, speeding too close to an exam is an ineffective way to study. Speeding reduces your chances of actually mastering the information and dramatically increases stress levels. So don't delay!
Step 4. Gather the materials
Gather and prepare all the materials and resources needed to do well on the exam. Collect old study notes, exams and assignments, lesson information, old exam papers and relevant textbooks.
- Use folders, colored highlight pens and sticky notes to organize materials so important information is easily accessible.
- Read your notebook and underline any keywords, formulas, themes and concepts. Notebooks are an invaluable resource because they are more concise than textbooks and will give you some clues as to what the teacher might emphasize on an exam.
- Ask if you can borrow a classmate's notes to compare with yours if you feel there are gaps.
- Look for a textbook that is different from the one you normally use. An alternative textbook may provide additional information that will make you stand out from your classmates, or it may outline a definition in a way that allows you to fully understand the material for the first time.
Step 5. Choose a study location
Choosing the right location is an important aspect of effective learning. The ideal study location will vary from person to person. Some people may prefer to study at home, where they can grab a cup of coffee or a snack whenever they want. Others prefer to study in a library, where they are surrounded by other focused people with minimal distractions. You need to find what works best for yourself. It may be a trial and error process until you find the most suitable place, or you may find that the combination of several different locations makes the learning process less monotonous and easier to follow.
Step 6. Go during business hours
Working hours is a service that most students don't take advantage of because they are too lazy or too scared. However, most lecturers or teaching assistants enjoy seeing students show interest and will be more than happy to answer questions or resolve any issues you may have.
- Just by making the effort to leave during work hours, you're giving professors a good impression of you, which may influence their thinking when assessing your exam.
- Discussing course material with your professor may also give you some clues as to what he or she considers the most important topics, and thus more likely to show up on exams. They may also be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to exam technique and what they're looking for in the exam.
Step 7. Form a study group
Study groups can be a great idea for people who have difficulty motivating themselves to study. Choose a group of people you like and are compatible with and arrange 2 or 3 hour study sessions once a week. In a group setting, you can exchange ideas, solve difficult problems together, and ask questions you might be afraid to ask the teacher. Maybe you can also divide the workload among the members.
- For example, if you are studying from a textbook with long and complex chapters from which only key information can be obtained, you might try dividing one chapter for one person and summarizing its contents for each person in the group. That way you can get comprehensive information in a relatively short time.
- In study groups, it is important that everyone in the group is on the same level and has the same work ethic. Otherwise, the study group will not succeed, or others may fall behind. Don't feel bad if you have to withdraw from a study group that isn't working for you. Doing well in the exam is the most important.
Method 2 of 4: Study Efficiently
Step 1. Study in a full 20-50 minutes
If you try to study for a long period of time, you will tire easily and your study will not be very effective. It is much better to study in short 20-50 minutes, as during this short period of time you will be able to fully concentrate, thereby maximizing the amount of information absorbed.
- After 20-50 minutes of studying a particular topic, take a 5-10 minute break and then move on to another topic. This way you will stay fresh and won't get bored with the material.
- To use this learning method, you must break the subject matter into small, easy-to-digest sections. If you give yourself too much material to master in a short amount of time you won't be able to learn the material well.
Step 2. Take a break
The importance of taking short, frequent breaks cannot be underestimated. Taking a break allows the brain to process all the newly absorbed information and refreshes the mind before starting again. You should take 5-10 minute breaks every 20-50 minute study session and 30 minute breaks every four hours or so.
- Reading social media sites or watching television is not a good use of time off. It's better to use that time by eating healthy snacks to refuel your brain, because the brain consumes glucose when you study. Almonds, fruit and yogurt are good choices.
- You should also walk outside for a while to get some fresh air. Oxygen stimulates blood circulation, which helps the brain stay in tip-top shape. If you can't go outside, try doing some stretches to loosen up your legs.
Step 3. Break large chunks into small, manageable tasks
Studying can seem like a daunting prospect when you set a goal to study an entire course topic during a lengthy study session. However, the task will be much more approachable if you break the topic into smaller chunks, which can be worked on in small, intense bursts.
- For example, if you're studying a Shakespeare text and you set a goal to find out "The Tempest" inside and out at the end of the day, the task may be too much to do. But when you break down your lessons into specific tasks it's much more doable. Take 40 minutes to study the characters of Caliban, another 40 minutes to learn the main themes of the play, and another 40 minutes to study some of the most important quotes.
- Similarly, if you're studying a science like biology, don't overwhelm yourself by trying to absorb all of the textbook chapters at once. Break it into small, easily digestible pieces. Take 20 minutes to learn some key definitions, or remember important diagrams or experiments.
Step 4. Take effective notes
Keeping your own personal notes is important for effective study. Organized and structured notes can help you study much more efficiently, because checking your own notes is much faster than sifting through specific information in a large textbook. By taking notes yourself, you can highlight important information, while also setting aside redundant material contained in textbooks.
- When taking notes, try to compile the most helpful and easy information from various textbooks, from lecturer materials and course notes. By varying the source of the material, you will produce a more extensive record. This will help you stand out from your classmates during the exam and increase your chances of doing well on the exam.
- Try to find a note-taking method that works for you. Some students make information cards, others use colored pens when writing, and still others use fast writing. Do what feels right for you, just make sure that your notes are legible and well organized.
Step 5. Use textbooks strategically
Most students are bombarded by textbooks, and reading is often a task they dread. However, reading textbooks doesn't have to be a difficult or time-consuming task as you think. The key is to learn how to read more effectively and efficiently.
- Before you dive into the book and go deep into the material, take the time to review the material by briefly reading the chapter you are about to read. Read the chapter titles and see if there is a summary that summarizes the chapter content. Read all chapter headings, subtitles or words in bold. Have an idea of what you are going to read before you start.
- Ask yourself what the most important topic or concept in the chapter is. You may find that changing the title to a question can be helpful. Develop questions such as Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why?, and How? which you can answer while reading.
- Once you're familiar with what the chapter will cover, it's time to start reading. Try to identify important terms or concepts. It's a good idea to underline or highlight information that you think is important and that you will revisit later.
- After you have finished reading the text, the next step is to describe the information you have learned. Try answering the questions you developed earlier without referring to the textbook to test whether you really absorbed the material. Once you feel you have a full understanding of the material, review all the main topics and terms. Turning the concepts you read into your own words will help you remember.
- Make notes about the information you've just read, including titles, definitions, key terms or anything else you think is important. While your notes should be brief, they should be detailed enough to allow you to refresh your memory of the most important concepts when you use them for later study.
- Now that you've read the material and taken notes, review everything you've learned. Go through your notes to remember important topics covered in chapters. Try to predict the questions the teacher might throw in the exam and practice how you answer them. Make sure you have a solid understanding of what you are reading. If you feel confused or don't understand a concept, go back and read it again.
Step 6. Explain the material to others
Once you feel that you have a good understanding of the material, ask a friend or family member if you can try explaining the material to them. If you can explain the material in a way that other people (who haven't studied the subject) can understand, without getting confused yourself, that's an indication that you know the topic well.
- By creating information in your own words and talking about topics without the aid of notes, you are helping to keep that knowledge in memory.
- Being able to explain to other people also proves that you really understand the information you've learned, rather than just learning by rote.
Step 7. Test yourself
Once you've mastered all the material that is likely to appear in the final exam, you should consider some practice exams. Doing practice exams is a great way to test your knowledge and understanding of the material.
- Use semester exams, quizzes and old exam papers or ask your professor to provide a sample exam script. Old exams or sample exam scripts will also help you get comfortable with the exam structure and format, which can be invaluable on test day.
- Don't worry if your practice exams don't go the way you expected. The point of practice exams is to identify your weaknesses, so you can open a book and study again.
Method 3 of 4: Study Techniques
Step 1. Use picture-word association
Picture-word association works by associating unfamiliar terms or concepts with pictures that you are already familiar with. Associating unfamiliar material with something you already know can help you remember that material much more easily, especially if you're a very visual person. As a simple example, if you're trying to remember the term "dogma," try imagining a Golden Retriever every time you hear it!
Step 2. Use acronyms
An acronym is a word in which each letter stands for another word or term, making the list of words easier to remember. You can create your own acronyms by taking the initial letters of a list of words or phrases and arranging them in such a way that they form another easy-to-remember word. The best example of an acronym in everyday use is SIM, which stands for "Driving License".
Step 3. Use the mnemonic device
Mnemonic sets work in the same way as acronyms, except that they are used to remember a list of words in a specific order and usually in the form of phrases rather than single words. The phrase can be anything, as long as the first letter of each word in the phrase correlates with the first letter of each word or term you're trying to remember, and is in exactly the same order.
For example, some people use "MeJiKuHiBiNiU" to remember the order of the colors of the rainbow. In this case, Me = Red, Ji = Orange, Ku = Yellow, Hi = Green, Bi = Blue, Ni = Indigo, U = Purple
Step 4. Try the "hide-write-compare" technique
This method is similar to explaining the subject you are studying to someone else, only you can do it yourself. Once you've finished studying a particular subject and written down all the relevant terms and definitions, try closing your notes and writing it out of your head. When you're done, take another look at your notes and compare them to what you've written. If the output is accurate, then you will know that you have a good understanding of the material.
You might use this method to learn how to spell your first words, by reading them, closing them, then trying to write them yourself. Although this is simple, it is actually a very effective learning method, even at the college level
Step 5. Try turning the material into a story
Instead of studying monotonous and boring lists and facts, try turning your subject matter into a compelling and engaging story that you can easily remember. Incorporate descriptive facts, dates and locations, and a few key words into your story and write them down or tell them to yourself or someone else to stick them in memory.
Step 6. Use an analogy
Analogies work by comparing and contrasting terms and ideas in a certain way to make them memorable. Using analogies is about recognizing patterns and how they can be applied to things. There are several types of analogies, such as those that link a part or a whole. For example, a battery starts a flashlight like an engine starts a car. Or, you can use an analogy to assess cause and effect. For example, itching and scratching are the same as smoking and cancer.
Step 7. Use repetition
Repetition is the most popular learning method. Involves repeating information over and over again, either by reading, writing or repeating it aloud, until the information is fully absorbed. Repetition can be an effective learning method, although it is usually necessary to self-test to ensure that the information has actually been learned. You can read hundreds of times, but you may still not be able to put what you read on the exam.
Step 8. Decide when to use each of these methods
While each method has its own uses, you'll have to experiment a bit to find a method that works. Also remember that some useful methods are better for certain subjects than others. The way you learn math problems and formulas will be very different from how you learn plays in literature class.
- For example, repetition, acronyms and mnemonic devices work well for science lessons like biology, which involve a lot of unfamiliar and unfamiliar terms, whereas storytelling can be especially helpful when studying for a history exam, as you can change facts around certain characters or events. the story is interesting and easy to remember.
- Try to choose a learning method based on your particular strengths. If you are a fast learner, parsing information and lists may be easy for you, while if you are a more visual person, associating written material with charts and pictures may help you remember information more easily.
- Remember that there is no one right way to learn, do whatever works for you.
Method 4 of 4: Managing Stress
Step 1. Eat healthy and exercise
The importance of healthy eating and exercise during a time of intense study cannot be underestimated. Eating right will give you more energy and help keep you alert during study sessions, while exercise can help you clear your head and relieve stress.
- Try eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein and fillings, complex carbohydrates at mealtimes, and try a cereal and granola bar or a handful of nuts or raisins for a healthy snack. Avoid sweet snacks that will make you sleepy.
- When it comes to exercise, try incorporating 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine, whether it's something fun like a dance class or playing soccer, or something as simple as taking a walk outside.
Step 2. Get enough sleep
Make it a goal to get a full 8 hours of sleep every night. It may be tempting to study late into the night, but remember you need energy and focus in order to study effectively, which you wouldn't have had if you stayed up the night before. Also remember to get a good night's sleep on the night of the exam. Otherwise your advance preparation could be in vain.
Step 3. Avoid people who are stressed
Stress can be very contagious, so try to avoid fellow students pulling their own hair during exams, or people who are stressed in general. A calm and methodical approach can always beat stress.
Step 4. Say no to distractions
It's easy to give in to distractions while studying, but try to remember your long-term goals and be firm with yourself. If you allow yourself to be distracted from studying now, you'll end up speeding a week before the exam, which will put your stress at the peak. Study with discipline and consistency and you will feel calmer and ready for the exam.
While you are studying, turn off your phone and consider downloading a computer program that blocks your access to social media sites. If your friend asks you out for coffee while you're in the middle of a productive study session, don't feel guilty about saying no
Step 5. Take time to have fun
Set a solid study schedule for the week and try to stick to it as best you can. However, you should allow yourself some free time on the weekends to relax and lighten your head. Go with some friends, watch a movie or just hang out with family. If you've been studying consistently throughout the week, there's no need to feel guilty about having fun on the weekend… you need it!
Step 6. Visualize that you are successful
Try to visualize yourself feeling confident and relaxed on the day of the exam. Then think about what it would be like to get your target score. Visualization will help motivate you to take the steps needed to achieve your goals. Remember, if you believe you can, you can!
