There is nothing that students fear and worry about other than exams. Willingness to learn is one of the things that can counter these negative things, but without proper guidance, it is sometimes difficult for us to learn (or at least, cultivate a desire to learn). You need to develop good study skills early on in school because you will carry these skills with you. Since learning is a kind of “problem” faced by all students at all levels of education, you can get help from others to study well. Read the information below to quickly find out how to study well for the exam.
Step
Step 1. Calm yourself
Keep in mind that by meeting a sufficient percentage of attendance and doing well on assignments, you already have sufficient knowledge to face the exam. This main knowledge will later help you when the exam takes place.
- Do not panic. Panic will only make the situation worse. You will only focus on the bad things, and not the test itself. Often times, panic makes it difficult for you to do well on exams. If you feel panicked, take a deep breath (try not to gasp), and tell yourself that you can do it.
- Activities such as yoga and meditation help reduce stress levels. A clearer mind and a fresh body make you ready for the test.
- Actually, those of you who are smart will know the importance of studying a few days before the exam. Some people always study in such a pattern knowing that last-minute study is not an ideal study pattern, especially for studying and recalling long-learned material. Also, make sure you don't study for too long. Rest for about 5-15 minutes.
Step 2. Determine the subject matter that must be mastered
Usually, in exams there are certain topics and materials that will be covered, and it is important for you to know what material or topics need to be studied. Otherwise, you will just be wasting your study time. Ask your teacher about the grid of topics to be tested and which chapters need to be mastered. For example, ask what eras of empires will be tested. For math, ask if you should make a diagram. If you're not sure, don't hesitate to ask your teacher because he or she will want you to succeed.
- Study the most important topics first. Usually, several key ideas, concepts, or skills will be tested. When time is pressing, focus your energy on important topics that will be tested rather than studying various topics. Review sheets, topics that have been marked in textbooks, and materials that your teacher emphasizes repeatedly in class are usually clues to the most important topics or materials.
- Find out what form the exam will take. Know the types of questions to be asked (eg multiple choice, essay, problem text, etc.). Also find out the value for each part of the question. If you don't know it, ask your teacher. This way, you will know the most important parts of the questions and the form of the questions that will be given.
Step 3. Create a study plan
As basic and simple as it sounds, people who create detailed study plans usually find it easier to study and have more time to relax. When making a study plan, take advantage of the time available before the exam. Do you have one month before the exam starts? Did your teacher give the exam suddenly? Are you going to face the midterm exams? Make a long or short study plan, depending on the timeframe you have.
- Determine the subject or material that you do not really understand and spend more time studying the subject or material. Aspects that you already understand also need to be re-examined. However, it will be easier for you to learn it so it's a good idea to focus on more complicated topics first.
- Plan your time. You may be tempted to relax until the day before the test. Instead of following a pattern like that, set a time that you can devote each day to studying. Remember to take breaks between studies. As a good guide, try to study for 30 minutes, and rest for 10 minutes.
Step 4. Determine the learning method you want
These methods include the use of color and images, brainstorming, and mapping. Some people can learn and remember more easily when applying the use of color to the learning process, while there are also people who understand the material more easily when using diagrams or pictures. Therefore, use the learning method that is most suitable for you. As long as the method is effective, you can use any method. There's no point when you read so many texts every day if you find yourself more suited to learning to use diagram-assisted media. Remember that everyone has a different learning method. This means that the methods that work for your best friend may not work for you.
- Use study aids or equipment. Using media like flashcards (cards) may seem tedious, but they can help you remember important things. If using cards doesn't help, maybe you can write an outline of your lesson notes.
- Stick the cards in different places to test yourself. This is a good way to “steal” study time, as will be explained later.
- Remember to study carefully, not study hard.
Step 5. Take notes and ask questions
It's never too late to take notes and ask questions. In addition, class sessions before exams are usually used to review lessons (a review like this is certainly necessary, isn't it?). If you are studying and find a topic or material that you don't understand, write down the material first. After that, ask your teacher about it during class hours or breaks. Do not be afraid! You don't necessarily sound stupid when you ask a question. Having questions shows that you are actively paying attention to the lesson and that you are following the learning process. Also, by asking questions early on, there's a good chance you'll get a better score on the exam.
Step 6. Look for learning reference sources
Textbooks, notes, online resources, classmates, teachers, and (perhaps) family members can also be good sources of reference. Previous assignments can also be a good source of reference because sometimes in exams, the questions given are taken from homework questions.
Step 7. Ask for help
You will not get any additional value when you study alone. Classmates can help you study, but make sure you choose friends who can actually help you, not friends who like to joke around. You can also ask for help from your parents or siblings. Of course they will really appreciate your request. Plus, your sister might be happy if she could "test" her brother.
Form study groups. Apart from getting additional help, you can also benefit from studying with people you know. However, don't invite friends who can't help and only break the concentration of all group members. You can't be rude and reject anyone you don't like, but be careful when inviting friends to your study group
Step 8. Memorize the material as much as possible
The key to doing well on an exam is the ability to memorize all the relevant material. There are a few tricks that can help you memorize material (known as mnemonics). These tricks include, for example, poetry or rhyme mnemonics for people who rely on audio learning methods, visual images and imagination for people who rely on visual learning methods, dance or movement for people who rely on kinetic learning methods (because muscles also have memory), or a combination of these methods. Repetition is the most frequently used form of memorization. Repetition also allows you to memorize large amounts of material if practiced regularly. Therefore, practice your memorization until you can remember the material quickly because this kind of exercise is a form of strengthening.
- A commonly used mnemonic greeting is the donkey bridge of the names of chemical elements (eg Butet (B, Boron) Is (Al, Aluminum) Indonesian (Ga, Gallium) Girl (In, Indium) Tulen (Tl, Thallium) for the element group 3A). In addition, you can also draw simple human figures to represent certain vocabulary (this can be a good reason to draw cartoons in your book!). Try creating your own mnemonic that fits your needs.
- Try rewriting your notes to study. This can be an effective way to memorize.
Step 9. Take time to study
Short, repetitive study times are often more effective than long study times. While waiting for the school bus or pick-up car, review your material cards. Look again at the spleen diagram while waiting for your breakfast to be ready. Read an important quote from the poem “I” while brushing your teeth. Review the material to be tested in between class hours or during breaks.
Step 10. Give yourself a gift
In order to encourage yourself to try hard, it's a good idea to reward yourself too. Prepare a reward if you succeed in achieving certain learning goals or get the desired results, of course with an increased reward value (to keep you motivated).
Step 11. Prepare and tidy up the things needed for the exam
Make sure you have what you need for the exam one day in advance. If you need a 2B pencil, calculator, English dictionary, or other supplies, you should have them the day before the test. The more mature the preparation is done, you will feel calmer and can do well on the exam. Make sure you also set an alarm so you don't wake up late.
- If you are allowed to bring food, bring jelly as a sweet snack. However, it's a good idea to still bring healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. An apple or carrot can be a simple snack that helps improve performance and brain power.
- Bring a water bottle that doesn't have a sticker or label on the outside. Having a sticker or label on your teacher can put you under suspicion of cheating (e.g. the answer to a question is hidden behind a label).
Step 12. Eat well
Good nutrition is important to support you to think optimally. Try to avoid foods high in sugar and fat, such as ice cream and cookies. Replace sugary drinks with a glass of cold water, fresh fruit juice, or milk.
- Eat “brain-boosting” foods the night before the test. Serving fish can be a good food to eat the night before the test because fish provides good nutrition for the brain. You can also enjoy fresh vegetables and pasta with fish.
- Enjoy a nutritious breakfast. A nutritious breakfast can keep you alert. For example, you can enjoy a glass of juice, eggs, toast, and cheese. If there is, you can also enjoy a bowl of cold cereal. Make sure you eat whole grain cereals and not ones that contain a lot of sugar so you don't feel tired when taking the exam.
- Avoid drinking coffee because coffee can keep you up all night and increase blood sugar levels. Once the caffeine levels in the body are reduced, you will find it difficult to stay awake. Of course you don't want to take the exam sleepy. Therefore, avoid consuming caffeinated drinks or other foods before bedtime. The digestive process that takes place will keep you awake at night.
- Be careful when making sudden dietary changes. Eat the type of food you usually eat on school days so you don't disturb your digestive pattern.
Step 13. Get enough sleep the night before the test
This step is important and should not be skipped. Without enough sleep, you can't do well on exams because your brain can't focus on the exam.
- If you can't sleep, try drinking a glass of milk or warm tea. Make sure you don't drink drinks that contain caffeine.
- Don't change your sleep pattern. Go to bed at your regular bedtime to keep your sleep pattern awake.
Step 14. Get up and prepare for the test
Set the alarm to sound in the morning. Arrive at school on time or a few minutes early. If you have to register, pay fees, carry out identification processes and the like before the exam, allocate additional time to complete these processes.
- Show a positive attitude! If you've studied a lot but don't feel like you're going to pass it well, you're actually reducing your chances of doing well on the exam. See yourself as someone who can pass the test depending on all the preparation and attention to the material taught in class. Confidence is the key to doing well on exams.
- Set high expectations. Don't just hope to "pass" the exam (if you have a good chance of it), but try to get high marks. This way, you can get better grades. Also, if you don't get a very good score on the next exam, at least you've got a high score so that your overall score remains high.
Tips
- Don't keep checking your phone, iPod, or other device! Devices are just a distraction when you're reviewing material. If you play a smartphone, of course you will be tempted to text with friends, listen to music, play games, and so on.
- Study in a clean and tidy place, not in a dirty and messy room. Make sure all your needs have been arranged or tidied up. Sharpen your pencils and have your eraser, pen, ruler, math class kit ready, and more.
- Don't listen to music when you want to go to sleep. Music will only keep your mind active so you can't sleep.
- Chewing peppermint while studying can stimulate the brain so that it will be easier for you to remember the information you need to know.
- Sometimes, listening to music while studying can help you understand the material. However, be careful with the type of music you choose. Classical music can usually be the right choice. Meanwhile, loud, lyrical rock music usually not only distracts you, but also makes it difficult for you to remember the answers you need to know.
- Friends are not always a reliable source of records. Therefore, ask your teacher for material notes. Having notes makes it easier for you to know what you feel is important (and will be tested). Therefore, you and your friends may have different opinions about the information that you feel is important.
- If you're still having trouble sleeping, make sure you've turned off all light sources. Close curtains and turn off light-generating devices. In addition, if you often have trouble sleeping, you are not advised to turn on the night light.
- The best way to study before facing a difficult exam is to study, memorize, and understand the material.
- If you missed school and didn't have time to get your notes, diagrams, maps, and other materials taught, don't wait until the day before the exam (or even on exam day) to get these resources. Get this information immediately.
- If your teacher writes certain points on the blackboard, they are usually important indicators that show the material being tested. You also need to take note of these points.
- You can't procrastinate. If you procrastinate, you will not do well on the exam. In addition, for some people, procrastination is a serious problem.
- Avoid low-nutrient foods and make sure you exercise and meditate every day. Make sure your body and mind stay healthy.
Warning
- To avoid the habit of procrastinating, don't say "I'll study after …" to yourself because such words are actually a form of procrastination.
- Don't study so hard that your mind goes blank when you see the answers because you studied too hard before the test and feel pressured. When you study hard, it doesn't mean you have to study until you are exhausted.
- Don't study all the material at one time. This is not a good learning pattern. Next time, study consistently.
- Never cheat on an exam, regardless of how difficult the questions are. Listen to your conscience. The situation will be worse for you if you are caught cheating than when you fail the exam. You will also not feel comfortable when you cheat and successfully pass the exam with the cheat results. Try to leave the class proud that you did your best. This is much better than the false pride and discomfort that haunts you because you have to put aside the “fact” that you cheated on.
- Sometimes, your friends don't always help you when you study. If you miss a question in an assignment that you can use to study before an exam, it's a good idea to ask your teacher directly about the question. Studying the wrong answers is definitely the worst thing that can happen when you are preparing for an exam.
- Don't study late at night. In urgent time, study the main details that reflect the conclusions from the information or material to be tested. If you stay up all night and study all the material, you will not do well on the exam because you are sleep deprived.
- Never say "I will study". When you say such things, you will learn only when the words cross your mind.
- Study groups can turn into social events rather than academic gatherings. Therefore, it is better for adults (including parents) to monitor your learning process with friends.
- Commercially available notes on the internet (eg Cliff Notes) can help with the learning process. However, keep in mind that these notes are not a substitute for notes that you create yourself.
