Just when it feels like the day is going smoothly and smoothly, the teacher arrives with a quiz or a surprise test, totally unexpected. Everyone hates taking exams, but they are an inevitable part of school or university life. Everyone hates these moments, but you can improve your learning techniques to avoid being caught unprepared.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Laying the Foundation to Always Be Ready
Step 1. Review the lesson plan
Find out about all the dates of the tests and their importance for the final grade. Mark them on a calendar or diary, so you don't forget them.
Schedule study sessions aimed at reviewing starting at least a week in advance of each exam. In theory, you should prepare a little at a time well in advance, instead of trying to learn everything in one long session
Step 2. Pay attention in class
It sounds like a trivial suggestion, but in fact paying attention while sitting in class helps you enormously once it comes time to take the test. Do not think that you will automatically absorb the concepts, do not fall into this trap. Be an active student.
Listen carefully, because teachers often give clues like "The most important concept in all this talk is…". Or, they might place some emphasis on certain words or issues. This is the real secret to taking a good exam: the more you absorb the information right away, the less you will have to study
Step 3. Take good notes
Easier said than done, but learning to take good notes will help you a lot once it's time to study. Copy everything the teacher writes on the board or illustrates with slides. As far as possible, try to write down the concepts explained by the teacher, but taking notes should not distract you to the point that you are not actively listening.
Review your notes daily, immediately after each lesson. This helps you fix the information you just learned
Step 4. Make studying an integral part of your daily life
It's all too easy to get used to learning everything at the last minute, studying like crazy the night before a rehearsal. Instead, try to set aside time to study every day. Marking it on your diary as if it were an appointment or a commitment like any other could help you maintain good motivation so as not to lose the habit.
Step 5. Know the format of the proof
It would be better to know how the exam will be presented. How will students' knowledge be assessed? Is it possible to do some extra work to raise the grade? Is the professor willing to take a few minutes to review your notes and highlight the most important general concepts that will be addressed?
Part 2 of 6: Creating an Optimal Learning Environment
Step 1. Study in a clean, quiet, and tidy room
All distractions should be excluded from the place where you study, as they could cause you to lose focus. Rushing to read a message on your cell phone or constantly checking social networks is not recommended while trying to learn.
Step 2. Turn on the lights
Studying in a dark room is not recommended. In the evening, turn on some lamps, while during the day pull up the shutter (and open the window slightly). People tend to study and concentrate better in a bright, airy room with little background noise.
Step 3. Turn off the TV
While many students believe they are good at doing multiple things at once, like studying with the TV on or chatting with friends, research suggests this isn't true for most people. For better performance, eliminate distractions such as television and loud music. If you continually try to balance attention between study and TV, it is more difficult for the brain to prioritize information acquisition.
Step 4. Decide if the music is right for you
The effect of music on memory performance varies on an individual level. Some studies have found that music promotes memorization for people with attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome, while that impact is reduced for those without the disorder. Classical music appears to be the most effective for improving one's performance in the studio. You have to determine if he gives you a hand or not. If you enjoy listening to music while you study, make sure you really focus on the material you need to learn, not the catchy rhythm you hum in your mind.
- If you absolutely must listen to music, choose the instrumental one, so that the words of the text do not interfere with the study.
- Play sounds from nature in the background to keep your brain active and avoid being distracted by other noises. On the Internet you can find for free a myriad of generators of this type of sound.
- Listening to Mozart or classical music will not make you smarter or help you retain information in your brain, but it may make your mind more receptive to learning.
Part 3 of 6: Organizing the Studio
Step 1. Focus on your learning goals
What do you intend to achieve during a study session? Setting a concrete learning goal could help you. Creating study programs is another good idea. If three out of five subjects are easy and you can finish your homework quickly, do it right away so you can spend quality time on the more difficult ones, without fussing.
Step 2. Write a study guide to orient yourself
Review your notes and rewrite the most important information. Not only will this offer you a more focused method of study, but the creation of the guide itself is another form of learning. The important thing is not to waste too much time: you must also actually follow the study program.
Step 3. Transform the clipboard into other formats
Rewriting notes is great if you learn kinesthetically. Mind maps are the most effective way to do this. Also, when you rewrite something, you generally think about what you're doing, the topic, and why it's important. This is particularly useful for refreshing the memory. If you took these notes a month ago and recently discovered that they are relevant to the test, rewriting them will help you review them and you won't forget them for the test.
You don't have to just copy and recopy notes. This usually leads to memorizing the exact expressions you wrote instead of the actual concepts. Instead, read and think about the content (you could give examples), then re-express it in your own words
Step 4. Ask yourself questions about topics immediately after learning them
This helps you understand if you have memorized what you have studied. Don't try to remember the exact expressions on your notes as you try to answer them. Synthesizing the information for the answer is a much more useful tactic.
Answering the questions out loud can be just as helpful - do it as if you were trying to explain the concepts to someone else
Step 5. Review the tests and assignments you have done
If you missed any questions in previous work, look for the answers and make sure you understand why you overlooked these questions. This is particularly important if the exam you are studying for is cumulative or includes several topics, which therefore concerns topics covered throughout the course.
Part 4 of 6: Studying Efficiently
Step 1. Study at the right times
Don't do this when you are really tired. It is better to sleep well at night after studying for an hour than to force yourself to stand until two in the morning. You won't remember that much and probably the next day the performance will be poor.
Step 2. Start as soon as possible
Don't be reduced to studying the night before. Staying on books for hours the night before an exam has been shown to be ineffective. In fact, you assimilate so much information at once that it is impossible to memorize it all. By doing so, concepts will hardly become fixed in your mind. Studying first and reviewing multiple times is the perfect way to learn concepts. This is especially true with theoretical subjects such as history.
- Always study when you can, even if it's just for 15-20 minutes. These short learning intervals build up quickly.
- Study in periods of about 25 minutes using the Pomodoro technique. Then take a break for 5 minutes, repeat 3 times and finally take a longer break of 20-45 minutes.
Step 3. Study according to your learning style
If you are learning visually, using images can help. Auditory learners should record themselves as they read their notes and review them once they are assimilated. If you learn kinesthetically, repeat the concepts aloud to yourself as you use your hands or move around the room; in this way, it will be easier to memorize.
Step 4. Adapt study techniques to each subject
There are disciplines, such as mathematics, which require a lot of practice with the problems and exercises in order to become familiar with the necessary procedures. Humanities subjects, such as history or literature, usually involve greater synthesis of information and memorization of terms or dates.
Whatever your choice, you don't just have to reread the same notes a thousand times. To truly learn, you need to take an active role in "creating" knowledge and reviewing information. Try to find a big picture in your notes or organize them by topic or date
Step 5. Think about your teacher
Ask yourself, "What are the questions I'm most likely to find? What topics should I focus on in order to actually know what I need? Could the teacher be asking trick questions or tricks to deceive me?" This may help you focus on the most important information, instead of getting stuck on concepts that may not matter that much.
Step 6. Get help
If you need help, ask someone who knows these subjects - friends, family, tutors and professors are all good options. Don't you understand the explanations given to you by this person? You can very well ask her to process them differently.
- Asking teachers for help suggests that you have a certain commitment to study, and this can help you in the future, not just with exams. Always remember to contact teachers when you don't know what they are talking about or need more information. They'll probably be happy to help you out.
- Often, resources are available at schools and universities that can help you cope with stress, answer study-related questions, give you learning advice, and other forms of guidance. Ask the professor or visit the institution's website to learn how to use these resources.
Part 5 of 6: Keeping Motivation High
Step 1. Take breaks
You need time to enjoy yourself, and it is better to study when you feel rested than to wear yourself out on books all day. Structure your breaks and study carefully. Typically, the most effective method consists of 20-30 minutes of study followed by a 5-minute break.
- If your problem is starting to study, divide the session into 20-minute study intervals followed by a 10-minute break when time runs out. Avoid long, uninterrupted sessions.
- Make sure you structure your study intervals in a logical way so as not to leave any concepts unfinished before taking a break. It may indeed be more difficult to remember them in their entirety.
Step 2. Think positive, but work hard
Self-esteem is important. Getting stressed out because you've studied very little or obsessing over just the thought of getting a bad grade on the exam just distracts you from the work you have to do to be successful. However, this doesn't mean you don't have to study hard - you still have to work hard, even if you feel confident. Believing in yourself has the exact purpose of breaking down obstacles on the path to success.
Step 3. Work with other people
Make library study appointments with your friends to discuss notes or explain to each other topics you don't understand. Collaborating with other people allows you to recover those concepts you have not grasped, and also allows you to remember more information. In fact, this happens because you explain the concepts to each other or talk about the topic extensively.
If you ask other students for help, don't waste time when you meet. Focus on what you need to do
Step 4. Call someone for help
If you're stuck on a matter, don't hesitate to call a friend and ask for their help. If your friend can't help you, ask a tutor.
If you have time before the exam and find that you don't have enough material to understand the subject, ask your teacher if you can review with him
Part 6 of 6: Preparing for Exam Day
Step 1. Get enough sleep the night before
Elementary school children on average need 10-11 hours of sleep for optimal performance. For adolescents, however, usually at least 10 hours of sleep are expected. Little sleep has been found to have deleterious effects in the long run because of "sleep debt". To remedy the bad habits that have been perpetuated over time and recover mental performance correctly, it may take several weeks of optimal daily rest.
Do not consume caffeine or other stimulants 5-6 hours before bed (however, if a doctor has prescribed you a drug to take at a specific time, take it according to the instructions, regardless of when you go to sleep. before making any changes, consult your doctor). These substances reduce sleep efficiency; this means that you may not feel well rested when you wake up, even though you have slept enough
Step 2. Have a light and healthy meal
Prepare a balanced breakfast with lean proteins, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. For example, you could eat a spinach omelet accompanied by smoked salmon, wholemeal toast, and a banana.
Step 3. Bring a snack
If the exam is long, pack a snack in your backpack, as long as you have permission. Choose a product that contains complex carbohydrates and proteins, such as a peanut butter wholemeal sandwich or even a cereal bar. It will help you regain focus when it starts to falter.
Step 4. Get to school early
Give yourself at least 5-10 minutes to collect your thoughts before the exam begins. This way, you can adapt to the environment and have time to relax before the test begins.
Step 5. Answer the questions you know first
If you don't know the answer to one question, move on to the next ones and go back to the one you don't know next. Getting stuck on a question you don't know the answer to can waste a lot of time, which also makes you lose points.
Step 6. Prepare some flashcards
If you are taking a grammar test, it is a good idea to prepare flashcards to remember word definitions before the exam begins.
Advice
- Take breaks. They help the brain to unplug and assimilate the information learned shortly before.
- Don't lie on the bed to study - you can fall asleep easily.
- If you have an idea of the questions you will be asked and find it difficult to remember the answers, prepare yourself by writing the question on the front of a card and the answer on the back. Practice associating the answer to the question. When you go to take the test, your mind will remember it.
- Being active (running, cycling, etc.) before you start studying may help you focus and think about problems more carefully.
- If you plan to start at a certain time, say 12 noon, but get distracted and find it is 12:10, don't wait until 1pm to start. It's never too late to get down to business!
- Rewrite some of your key notes by making bulleted lists - they're easier to remember than reading a long paragraph.
- Don't rush to study each chapter. Go easy and learn at least one main chapter well instead of rushing to study them all.
- Read aloud with maximum focus - it will help you learn faster.
- Make a plan with care. Be organized and work hard. All of this will help you pass the exam with top marks.
Warnings
- Don't just study the night before a test. Learn gradually when you come home from class every day. It is useless to assimilate everything at once.
- If possible, avoid letting others stress you. Creating an atmosphere steeped in negativity and tension while studying makes you want to give up.
- Cheating won't solve your school or college problems, and you'll only end up getting caught red-handed, sooner or later. Often, the punishments for copying are severe: you could jeopardize your career legally or even get deported.
