#srudyblr

Exams can eat you alive if you don’t plan to study for them in the right way. The key to acing exams is to make a plan of attack and then to stick to it. Here are some tips to help you get the best grades possible on tests.

1) Don’t Wait to Study.

Did your professor tell you you’re having a test in two weeks? Start studying today. Just 20 or 25 minutes of studying now can cut way down on the time you have to study the night or two before the test. Review what you studied the previous day before you start studying new material. Do this every day, and you’ll have just about everything memorized and ready to apply on the test.

2) Make a Study Schedule. 

We suggests that you create a study schedule so that you know you have a specific time set aside every day to study, and only to study. Treat studying like you would your time out with your friends or your workouts. The time is to be used only for studying.

3) Don’t Procrastinate on Your Reading Assignments. 

Read your chapters and articles as they are assigned. Regularly review them before exams so that the information stays fresh in your mind. Create a summary of the important points in each article to make it fast and easy to remember what you need to for the test.

4) Go to Class Right Before the Exam. 

Another suggestions is that you go to class right up to the day of the test in case the professor gives some vital information related to the test. You don’t want to miss that!

5) Create a Study Guide. 

Throughout the semester, add important concepts (without examples, if you want to make the guide shorter) from your lectures, textbooks, articles, notes, tutorials, and any other source of exam material to the study guide. Organize the information into a few pages in a way that makes sense to you. Maybe use different colors to highlight important types of information (formulas, vocabulary, dates, names, etc.) 

6) Make Flash Cards.

Flash cards are helpful tools for studying and short-term memorization, but don’t make them your only study material. They are good for definitions, formulas, and dates, especially.·         

7) Get Rid of Distractions. 

Turn your phone off, and avoid texting or checking email while you study. Play some music if you focus better with it. Many people focus better with music without lyrics. ·         

8) Ask Yourself Questions and Paraphrase. 

Ask yourself questions about the material you’re learning. This can help you anticipate exam questions. Also, paraphrase what you read to be sure that you understand it. Do this out loud if you’re an auditory learner, or try writing it out if you’re a kinesthetic or visual learner. ·         

9) Make Visuals. Create charts, graphs, flow charts, and other visual material to help you understand complex processes and ideas. Breaking concepts down in this way will give you another way to comprehend the lessons. ·         

10) Create Your Own Tests. 

Write questions you think would be on the test. Then take your own test. Look for old tests from your professor. Ask people who took the class before for their old tests. Some of the questions may be the same. Your textbook probably has some online quizzes or practice tests in the book. ·         

11) Take Breaks. 

Some people say you should study 25 minutes with a 5 minute break. Others, say study 50, and take a break for 10. This gives your mind time to relax and reset. ·         

12) Write Down Questions. 

If you don’t understand something, write down the questions so that you can ask your professor or talk about them with a friend. ·         

13) Study with a Friend or Group. 

The more people talk about and review an idea, the better chance you’ll all have of learning from each other. Maybe someone in the group says something about a particular concept that you will remember because he said it in a novel way that helped you understand it better.