Do you have an important exam tomorrow and haven't read a single page of the books or notes? Many have been there before you! According to recent research, the lack of sleep caused by a long study session can make the situation worse. However, it is sometimes unavoidable to stay up late to prepare for a test. Here's how to stay calm and save your grades!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Before You Start Studying
Step 1. Find a place that is nice and quiet, but not too comfortable (like a bed or sofa), or you risk falling asleep
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Find or create a well-lit area. If it's too dark, your body will think “Hey! It's time for bed! . Convince him otherwise with lots of lights, simulating those of the day.
De Stress at Work Step 07 -
Get away from all distractions, such as cell phones; maybe you spent the whole semester texting in class, so this will be your "punishment". Also turn off your iPad and computer (unless you need them to study, but you won't be able to log into Facebook, YouTube or Pinterest): right now there's nothing but your book.
Cram the Night Before a Test Step 01Bullet02
Step 2. Have a bite
You might be led to think that 16 cans of Red Bulls and five Snickers is your best bet, but sadly it's not at all. Filling yourself with caffeine might keep you awake at first, but you'll end up feeling a lot worse later - maybe right around the time you actually need to take the exam.
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Eat some fruit instead: it keeps you awake, contains a lot of natural sugars and is nutritious. In this circumstance, you have to think of food as an element capable of providing energy.
Deal With a Mean Teacher Step 11 - If you feel full, you won't think about food, another reason you can focus better.
Step 3. Set the alarm
You might fall asleep on your chemistry notes, but at least you'd wake up in time to go for the exam.
So, set it up before you start studying - you'll be glad you did, should you doze off
Method 2 of 3: While you study
Step 1. Stay calm
Take a deep breath and collect all your thoughts, books, highlighters and flashcards.
Use the lesson plan for guidelines, it is very likely that the topics that pop up most often will be present in the test
Step 2. Go slowly, but don't focus too much on the details
Focus on the general idea - highlight the most important facts you think you might find in the test. Also remember to keep a vocabulary by your side.
Read the chapter summaries (they usually do a great job of collecting all the highlights). Don't have them? Scroll through the text and write down the key concepts
Step 3. Prioritize
This is the most important part when working hard for an exam. You have a very limited amount of time, so you need to put it to good use. Don't get distracted by the details, get to the heart of the topics you think are most important for the exam.
- Focus on the main ideas and learn the key formulas. Skip the details and only come back to them if you have time left after learning the basics.
- Don't try to learn everything. Focus on what will get you the most points on the exam. If the professor has said that the essay will make up 75% of the final grade, you may want to better prepare for this part and skip the study for the multiple choice questions.
Step 4. Write down important information and repeat it aloud:
this will help the brain process information better. If you read books or notes quickly, you probably won't remember anything.
If you are lucky enough to live with a sleepless roommate, ask him to listen to you as you repeat certain concepts. Passing the information on to another person allows you to gauge your understanding and understand the pros and cons of ideas
Step 5. Create flashcards for quiz ports
This strategy also gives you the opportunity to better process information as you write and read it aloud. Use different colors for different topics or chapters.
- Use similes, metaphors, and other mental associations to encourage memory to remember complicated concepts. Write down the keywords of the metaphor to stimulate your memory.
- Write the information using mnemonic tricks. Example: "Gods Can Seek Any Generously Special Family" (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Gender, Species).
Step 6. Take breaks
It seems counterproductive, but the brain will be able to process more information if you avoid making it work too hard. Study for a full 45-60 minutes, do not stay on the books for hours and hours: it is inefficient and saturates the mind, not allowing it to absorb the concepts.
Stretch and walk around the room. Have a drink, eat a snack and resume studying after 5-10 minutes. You will feel fresher and ready for action
Method 3 of 3: After the Intense Study Session
Step 1. Go to bed
If you stay up all night, you will hardly remember what you have studied. Wake up 30-45 minutes early and review the highlighted parts of your notes and books or using flashcards.
Try to get at least three hours of sleep, a full sleep cycle, otherwise you will feel poorly rested
Step 2. Have breakfast
A good meal before an exam will make your brain work better. However, don't overeat, or you'll get heavy.
Remember, the better you eat before an exam, the less you will be distracted by hunger. A cup of milk and cereals, fruit and coffee, for example, will help you focus
Step 3. Take a deep breath
Review the information a couple of times before going to college. If you've been paying attention in class and studying efficiently the night before, you shouldn't have too many problems.
Step 4. Before the teacher arrives, review with a friend
Ask yourself questions in turn, starting with the points that you think are the most clouded: this will help you refresh your memory.
Don't copy during the exam - doing so will make your situation worse
Advice
- Always stay hydrated.
- Don't memorize. Try to understand the concepts: only in this way will you make every main point your own.
- Instead of trying to memorize everything you read, understand what is in front of your eyes. This way, you will remember everything better.
- Think back to the lessons: what did the teacher particularly focus on? You could also ask this question to your teammates.
- Once you have learned a concept, ask yourself questions to see if you are familiar with it; this will allow you to memorize and improve your self-confidence.
- Don't panic. If you notice that you are too anxious, check your breathing.
- If you have finished studying but are not ready to go to bed, read a few pages of a book or an article related to the subject of the exam. As you read, try to make connections with what you have learned: if you have studied well, your mind will do it automatically.
- If you feel tired after a night on the books, take a shower, preferably cold, to cool off and wake up.
- Don't freak out on the exam. Repeat to yourself "Everything will be fine!"
- Sip some coffee if you believe it will help you stay awake. If you find it tends to make you agitated, get some exercise when you are about to fall asleep.
Warnings
- NEVER copy: the consequences could be serious. It is always better to win with integrity than dishonestly.
- Don't overdo it with coffee or energy drinks - it's dangerous for your health.
- If you plan to study on your way to university, don't do it if you have to drive - focus on the road.
- Toiling the night before an exam doesn't always pay off. Doing it once is understandable, but it can't become a habit, especially for important exams. Among other things, you risk not making any profit from your studies.
