Having to study for upcoming exams can be one of the most stressful yet universal post-secondary experiences. Having the right means for effective exam studying can make all the difference.
Major midterms or final exams can be worth significant portions of a final course grade, and many exams require a certain minimum grade for a student to get their credit regardless of their prior standing in the course.
Thankfully, there are a few ways to maximize the effectiveness of a study period. Here are some tips to try out if you find you’re struggling to prepare for an upcoming exam:
Partner up with a “study buddy”
Finding someone in your class to study with is an excellent motivator to sit down and prepare for an upcoming exam. Studying with someone can provide several benefits: it can give you a greater sense of progress, it provides an outlet for memorization and practice questions, and it often simply makes the study process more enjoyable. Sitting down to study by yourself can be difficult when you’re bored or unmotivated, but sharing your study session with a friend might give you the push you’ve been waiting for.
Make use of mnemonics
Make use of mnemonics
Employing the use of mnemonics, or memory devices, can segment learning in a way that makes information easier to recall. Mnemonics refer to any sort of mental association or “trick” that creates an easier way to remember pieces of information quickly and effectively.
Examples of mnemonics include turning a list of items into an acronym, creating rhymes or even creating a mental song that, when recited, can remind you of relevant information. There are many types of mnemonics beyond this short list, and while it may be difficult to find effective strategies at first, this can easily be one of the most creatively proficient methods of studying when used in a way that works for you.
Split up your studying into units
When dealing with several units, an effective study strategy is to divide them across several days or weeks so that each study session can focus on one or two subjects. For example, if an exam will contain six units and is three weeks away, it may be helpful to create a study schedule in which focus is placed on two units per week.
This creates structure within studying and averts overwhelmed feelings without knowing where to begin. It’s important to schedule some time for a brief overall review once the exam draws near, so that each unit of information can be mentally finalized once they have each already been explored in depth.
Contact your instructor with any concerns well in advance
If there’s a concept that really isn’t making sense to you, it’s usually helpful to contact your instructor for support. Before reaching out, check the course syllabus to find the appropriate person to contact as well as the best way to reach them. For example, a seminar leader might be the most appropriate option for quick and easy assistance, and they might only respond to email. Before reaching out to a professor, check to see if they have office hours and whether you can arrange an opportunity to ask questions in spaces that are specifically designed for intimate support.
Employ shorter study sessions if necessary
While it’s always advisable to begin preparing for an exam well in advance, sometimes things don’t work out and you’ll find yourself running out of time. In situations like this, it is useful to find short pockets of free time that you can take advantage of.
If you’ve got a half hour between classes, it might be worth using a computer, tablet or smartphone that can access the course website’s study notes to read up on areas of uncertainty. This type of studying shouldn’t be necessary if you spread out your studying in advance, but in emergency situations, even short study sessions on a personal smartphone or laptop can be effective in supporting your knowledge.
Everyone learns in a unique way, so it’s possible that not every one of these tips will work for you. You may need to try new strategies until you get a sense of your personal studying style, but these tips will hopefully provide a starting point if you’re unsure of where to begin.
It’s important to note that if you’ve been studying or paying attention in class, you’re usually in a better position than you might expect. Sometimes the stress of an upcoming exam can create feelings of uncertainty or doubt about your level of knowledge, but if you’ve been putting in effort, you likely know more than you think you do. Remember that taking confidence in your work can ease nerves and save you from unnecessary stress.
