Classwork seems to be popping up like mushrooms, right? As soon as you have made one, another appears around the corner. Show them who's in charge and pretty soon you'll only get good grades!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Setting up an Efficient Study Routine
Step 1. Create a study program
Time management is key when preparing for a test or exam. If you organize your day, you will feel less pressured, less rushed and avoid spending the night before studying. Plan the whole week before the class test to make the most of your time.
Try to study throughout the week and not just the last night. Reviewing the information several times allows you to “move” it from short-term memory (which dissolves in a short time) to long-term memory (from which you can also draw on in the future). In theory, you should study the subject a little every day
Step 2. Get started as soon as possible
If you start early, you will never have to worry about recovering at the last moment. Read the assigned chapters, do your homework, and take the lessons. The study that you will have to do on your own will be much easier.
Organize your notebook and class binder. Keep all your papers tidy so you can find them when you need them three months later. Keep the course syllabus handy so you can use it as a lesson guideline. Don't forget to study the subject every day, don't leave everything to the last minute
Step 3. Ask your teacher what parts he wants you to study
Remember that every little detail can become a question in the assignment!
Step 4. Sleep
It is important to sleep well instead of changing your sleep / wake cycle to study and interrupt the REM phase. Try to get at least 8 hours of rest every night. Your grades (and your parents) will thank you for it.
However, before you go to bed, make sure you have studied the most difficult concepts. So when you go to sleep the brain will have many hours to assimilate them. You can allocate the less complicated information to the afternoon, instead allow the more difficult ones to "settle" for the whole night, so you will remember them better
Step 5. Have breakfast
Research has shown that students who eat breakfast before an exam perform better than those who skip it. However, eat something healthy and light; It is not easy to concentrate with a mass of eggs, bacon and cheese in the stomach. Instead, choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
In fact, studies show that the diet you follow in the week before the class test affects your performance. Those who consume foods rich in fat and carbohydrates perform worse than those who eat complex whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fruits. Do your body and mind a favor with a healthy diet
Step 6. Avoid last-minute study marathons
Concentrating all your preparation on the previous night makes the class assignment even more difficult: you will be poorly rested, groggy and your mind will not be fully active. You can't store huge amounts of information overnight, it's physically impossible. If you stay up all night, you will get worse results.
If you don't believe in logic, trust in science. Statistics show that students who rely on the last-minute "grind" achieve, on average, just enough grades. If you want more than just a '6' then avoid this behavior
Step 7. Study in the morning, as soon as you get up and just before going to bed
In the morning the mind is fresh and active. Even if you would never say it, the mind seems to have 'more space' to store information as soon as you wake up. At night, the brain releases chemicals that hold information in memory, so studying before bed (and upon waking) is your best bet. When you know the mechanics of the brain, you can use them to your advantage!
Research shows that the closer the information is to bedtime, the better it is memorized. So it is advisable to review just before going to sleep! Plus, it seems like a good night's rest allows you to absorb the notions even better. Precisely for this reason it is not recommended to study everything at the last minute
Part 2 of 3: Studying Effectively
Step 1. Form a study group
According to Duke University, the most effective study groups are those of 3-4 people. One of these must be recognized as the leader who holds the group together and leads. Bring some healthy snacks, some music and make sure that the participants agree on the topic to be studied. Talking about the concepts to be studied means reading the textbook, seeing the written information, listening to it and discussing it with the other members of the group, all of which help to memorize it.
It is worthwhile to spend the first part of the study session working on the concepts. These are often ignored. Start a discussion about the concepts of the week or the most relevant topics in the class assignment. Once you have talked about it with the other members of the group, you will find that the subject will be more interesting and easier to remember. Then work on specific problems. Once the concepts have been analyzed, the problems to be solved will be simpler
Step 2. Choose a few different places to study
Recent research has shown that memory improves if notions are learned in different environments. Although the reason is not clear, it seems that enriching concepts with different environments is a stimulus to develop mental associations and therefore to make learning more profound. You can study at home or in the library!
If you can study in the classroom where the exam will take place, all the better. If you have already heard of 'context-dependent memory', you know what we are referring to. The brain has a better chance of remembering information if you are in the place where you learned it. Then reunite with the group in the school classroom
Step 3. Take breaks while you study
Whether you study at home or at school, take some time to look up from your notes. Drink a glass of water, take a walk or have a snack. However, make stops of only 5-10 minutes, if they are too long you will not be able to regain concentration and study!
Remember that you need to take breaks to give your brain time to "digest" the information. In this way you improve attention and the ability to memorize. You are not wasting time, you are just studying in the most efficient way for your brain
Step 4. Choose nutritious foods
Recent studies have shown that cocoa is a "super food" for the brain. Dark chocolate has a similar effect, but choose the one with at least 70% cocoa. Grab a cup of chocolate or that bar sticking out of the pantry without guilt!
- As for coffee and tea, know that a little caffeine (in moderation) is not bad. Being energetic is part of the process of internalizing information. Just don't overdo it or you'll have a breakdown after a few hours.
- Fish, nuts and olive oil (all foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids) are very nourishing for the brain. Try to have a meal with these foods before the exam so your brain will be ready and eager to take action.
Step 5. Make studying fun
Write the notions on the flashcards and decorate them. Just make sure you don't put too much information or it will be difficult to decipher. You can test what you have learned or test the other members of the study group and work with them while you wait for the bus, while you go to the classroom or just to pass the time.
- You are more likely to remember things if you associate them with a strange story. Are you trying to remind yourself that the Bay of Pigs invasion took place during the presidency of John F. Kennedy? Then you can imagine the president swimming in the ocean surrounded by grunting pigs.
- Charts and pictures are easier to remember than boring long sentences. If you can make studying more interactive and pleasing to the eye, do it.
- Use the tricks to memorize. It seems that the brain can only remember a certain amount of information (probably 7), so if you can group a lot of notions in one word, then make the most of its capabilities.
Step 6. Separate the topics into parts
The simplest way to do this is to use highlighters. Use yellow for words not to be forgotten, pink for dates and blue for statistics. When you are studying, take the time to review this information so your brain doesn't get "bogged down" with numbers, dates, and other hard-to-memorize concepts. You can't fully train football by practicing only penalties, right?
- Likewise, when you study, it is easier to learn the broad concepts rather than the small details. For this reason, focus only on the larger topics when reviewing. When you need to study in detail, also analyze the details.
- Studying with different materials in a single session has shown that it leaves a deeper and more lasting imprint on the memory. The reason is the same as why a musician, when practicing, tries out scales, pieces and focuses on rhythm or an athlete trains with strength, speed and dexterity exercises. So, in the afternoon, use all the colors available!
Part 3 of 3: Reduce Anxiety
Step 1. Do a mock exam
This is useful for two reasons: A) you will be less nervous during the actual task (which could affect the result) and B) you will do the test better. A recent study from the University of California Berkeley showed that students who pre-tested what they learned performed better than those who were asked to try what they studied.
For this reason, prepare a simulation of the task and ask a friend to do the same. You will be able to evaluate each other and benefit from them. If you can organize a group test, so much the better. The more the simulation is similar to the real exam, the more you will feel prepared (and will be) in the fateful day
Step 2. Review on the morning of the assignment if it helps you calm down
This is good practice for the same two reasons we indicated earlier. You have to be calm and relaxed, reviewing just before helps you achieve this goal. In addition, the morning review helps you to fix the information (remember that the brain is more receptive when you wake up?). Then, on the way to class, review the flashcards for the last time.
Review only the simplest topics. Trying to review more complex and broad concepts when you only have ten minutes of time isn't helpful at all. You will only be able to freak out and get agitated, just what you don't want! You just have to prepare the brain for the content of the class test
Step 3. Get in the right mood before going to class
Some people practice meditation, others yoga. Anything that helps you calm your breathing and get you in the right mood is useful. What prepares you and makes you feel good?
Consider listening to classical music. While it won't make you smarter (as many people believe), classical music does help your memory. If you want to be particularly scientific in your choice of music, listen to the one with 60 beats per minute, as it seems the most suitable in these circumstances
Step 4. Show up early on the day of the exam
If you are running late and running late, you will be stressed even if you know the subject matter well. So get ready in time, gather all the materials you need, ask your friends questions (and let them do the same), chew some gum and get ready. The time has come to tackle the task.
Step 5. Start with the simple questions
The best way to get stressed out and lose self-control is to focus on the questions you can't answer. You will begin to worry about the passing of time and to convince yourself that you have not studied enough. Don't fall into this trap, move on to the problems you know how to solve, you will address the other questions later.
The more time you spend on a question, the more you run the risk of "guessing" the answer. You have to trust your intuition, you have studied hard! Don't doubt yourself. Come back to the problem later and you'll have a clearer mind
Advice
- Prepare some flashcards and use them as if they were a fun game. Studying doesn't have to be boring!
- Every weekend take your notes on all subjects home and summarize them. When the date of the assignment approaches, you are ready with all the notes for the review.
- Drink plenty of water, eat well, and get enough sleep to have all the energy you need to take the test. A stomach that "rumbles" is distracting.
- When re-reading your notes, use three different colors. They can be highlighters, pens, markers or pencils; however highlighters are the most convenient tool. Highlight the headings of the various paragraphs with one color, the key or important words with another and the relevant information with a third. This helps you focus only on what you need to know.
- Start with the topic you like least, the rest will seem easier.
- Tackle one concept at a time, starting with the most difficult. Then test your knowledge. Try to ask yourself some more difficult questions than those foreseen in the assignment.
- Rest well at night and you will be fresh and ready for the exam. If you have time, take a shower, listen to some music or review the flashcards. If you don't have any, go over your notes. Drink some water and avoid sugary foods otherwise when it's time for the task you will be excited and have problems concentrating.
- Every night, once you've studied enough, reward yourself. Play a little with video games or treat yourself to a treat.
- Read aloud when you review.
- Put the date on the clipboard. Being able to easily find the information from last Tuesday's lesson will save you a lot of time.
- Don't try to copy, study hard and you will get good grades.
Warnings
- If you are worried, you will have less confidence in yourself during the task. Try not to give in to stress, it's just a task, one among many!
- Don't wait until the last minute to study. Spending the night before the book test tires your brain excessively and you will forget all the information within a short time.
- Try to review the topics early in the morning, right after getting up, so you are sure to memorize everything clearly!
