Studying for exams can be stressful, especially if you don't have a clue how to approach that specific subject. English exams can vary greatly depending on the choices of the teacher or the courses taken: creative writing, literature or humanities on a larger scale. In any case, there are a number of general strategies that can be very helpful for you to succeed in your English exams.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Memorize the Vocabulary Words
Step 1. Make some didactic cards
Didactic cards are one of the best ways to memorize vocabulary words. Write the word on one side of the card and its definition on the other. You can then question yourself or have someone else question you.
You can also use electronic teaching cards. There are computer programs and smartphone apps designed specifically for studying on the didactic cards: insert the "front" and "back" of the cards and then slide them
Step 2. Identify roots, prefixes and suffixes
One way to study vocabulary more quickly and effectively is to know the roots of common words, prefixes and suffixes. Knowing how to identify them can help you to guess the meaning of the words present rather than having to memorize a long list of words that mean little or nothing to you. Moreover, very often, they are almost identical or recall their Italian equivalent, making the word even easier to memorize.
- The prefixes a, in, il and ir often indicate a "not".
- The suffixes –ive, -ative and –itive indicate that the word in question is an adjective, which describes a noun.
- The prefix man usually refers to the use of hands.
- The suffix phobia indicates fear of something.
- The prefix re means again or again.
- The prefixes sur, sub, suc, sup and sus, often mean below, below or in secret.
- The prefix psyche indicates the relationship with the mind.
- The mono (one) and poly (many) prefixes indicate a number or quantity.
- The suffixes log, logo and ology represent the study of a certain subject.
Step 3. Write the words and definitions
Even if you haven't done the instruction sheets, writing down the words and definitions will still help you remember them.
- If you have time, try writing the words and definitions more than once.
- If you have a visual memory, try using different colors. You may be able to remember the color of the word and see its definition during the exam.
Method 2 of 4: Review the Material
Step 1. Review a short selection of texts
Any poem or short story you have covered in class should be reread. For longer texts like novels, be sure to re-read sections that seem important or have been covered for a long time in class.
- If you took notes while discussing the texts, first review the notes and then reread the text.
- Be sure to consult the course program to remember all the texts you have read.
- Reviewing the chapter titles and the first and last sentences of each chapter of the novels can help you refresh your memory on the details of the novel.
Step 2. Read the introductory material and notes on the side of the textbook
If you used a classic textbook for the course, read the introductions and footnotes that accompany the poems or short stories read.
These tools, often overlooked in early readings, often provide context and overview that can be very useful for questions on the topic
Step 3. Review the course notes
If you took notes in class, read them again. If you don't usually take notes, you should make an effort to do so in the future. This is the best way to remember something that was talked about in class. Teachers hardly ask exams questions that weren't addressed directly in class, which is why being able to review class time information is the best study guide.
Step 4. Identify the "main picture" themes
Many literature exam questions deal with the topic or messages of the "big picture" of the text. If you have trouble identifying the issues yourself, try searching the internet for the name of the text along with the word "thematic". You should be able to find helpful study guides and overviews. Knowing the general themes of literature can help you identify them in specific texts:
- Man against nature
- Man against hostile society or divinities
- The ephemeral nature of time
- The inevitability of death
- The state of alienation
- The danger of ambition
Step 5. Review study guides and summaries online
There are a number of websites dedicated to providing summaries and study guides to students for classic, famous and renowned texts. They can be ideal tools for study, but they should never replace reading the text in the first place.
If you choose to use an online guide, choose a reputable one, written by knowledgeable people. Avoid using personal blogs and websites that do not specify whether the author is an expert on the subject or not
Step 6. Memorize details such as character names
While the exam is not usually asked to specifically identify character names and characteristics, these are details that will come in handy during the test.
- Confusing or mistaking the names of the characters risks damaging the answers to the otherwise excellent and complete exam questions.
- Use the didactic cards (paper or electronic) to memorize the names of the characters and the details about them.
Method 3 of 4: Determine the Exam Content
Step 1. Refer to your study guide
The best way to prepare for an exam is to consult and fill out the entire study guide. Most of the teachers who provide study guidance are in fact handing over the keys for the exam. Becoming familiar with the entire content of the study guide can guarantee you a successful exam.
If the teacher does not provide a study guide, this option will not be available to you. However, you could still try to speak directly to the teacher before or after class, or during office hours to ask for directions and advice on where to concentrate your study
Step 2. Review the course syllabus
If the teacher distributes a course plan or calendar, read it. Often, the professor's philosophy on examinations is included in a detailed program. It can also serve as a reminder of the specific texts that have been covered or the topics that have been most focused on.
- Any topic that the teacher has focused on for more than one lesson is usually most likely important.
- Most study programs include a section on exams. At a minimum, you should be able to determine the credits or the percentage of the entire degree course (or school year) represented by each individual exam, which will help you determine how much time and how much study to spend.
Step 3. Review the lecture notes
For some exams, you may be required to provide definitions of key concepts or literary movements. In others, it may be necessary to be able to deal with the way in which a certain theme is explored in certain works. Search the clipboard to check definitions, lists and any topic or topic that comes up more than once; this is usually a good sign of whether or not it will be found on the exam.
Step 4. Go to class before the exam
Often, the day or days before the exam are the best time to go to class. The teacher will most likely covertly present part of the exam in preview, providing indications on the points in which to concentrate the study. The same usually happens when professors provide study guides as well.
- If you can't go to class at all, ask a friend or a trusted classmate for copies of any distributed booklets or class notes. If he knows well in advance that you can't be there, he'll be more likely to take notes than just listen.
- As a last resort, contact the teacher to find out what you missed in class. It is best to warn well in advance that you will not be able to be present and to say that you have tried to pass notes from other students to you. Do not ask the question by saying that you want to know if you have missed something or if something important has been dealt with; you could risk offending the teacher. On the contrary, ask the teacher if he or she shares with you the topic he has dealt with in class, even if only in outline.
Step 5. Ask the teacher on which points to focus the study
If the teacher does not provide a study guide or specific information about the exam, you can go and ask them directly towards the end of a lesson. It is important to be very courteous and only ask for directions on the study rather than expecting to know the content of the exam.
It will also be important to know if the exam is cumulative, addressing each topic dealt with since the beginning of the semester, or if it only concerns the topics dealt with after the last exam
Step 6. Review the exams from previous courses
If this is not the first exam in the course, take a look at the last exam you took. Many teachers use similar formats for each exam, so a previous exam can serve as a study guide or at the very least as a guiding idea of what to expect in exam design.
Step 7. Know the structure of the exam
In addition to asking about the contents of the exam, you should also ask the teacher for details regarding the form and modality of the exam. For example, knowing whether an exam will be multiple-choice or entirely free-form can help you decide how to study.
Knowing if you will take the exam on a computer or with a pen and paper will also be useful in determining how to study in the best way. A computer with automatic correction software, for example, could reduce if not eliminate the need to spend a lot of time studying the spelling and vocabulary in use
Step 8. Determine the proper material to take the exam
Make sure you are ready for the exam by bringing the necessary material for it. If the exam will be done on a computer, you may not need to bring anything.
- Understand if you will need a pen or pencil, sheets of paper or exam books, if you will be able to use the textbook or novels you have read during the exam.
- Some teachers may even allow you to use cards or a study guide during the test.
Method 4 of 4: Form a Study Group
Step 1. Ask classmates if they would like to get together to study together
You probably won't be the only person who wants to study for the English exam. Asking before or after class if anyone is interested in meeting to form a study group can be a great way to increase the effectiveness and productivity of your study hours.
You are more likely to be able to put together a study group if you don't wait until the day before the exam to propose it - plan ahead
Step 2. Share your notes with others
Each student takes notes in class differently, so circulating and comparing notes can be a good way to remember details about specific class discussions. It can also be a great way to review material from your days away.
- Remember that other group members may not have thought about sharing their notes, so try to be polite about the handwriting or clutter of their notes.
- Don't be ashamed of the state of your notes. You too did not expect to share them with others and in any case even confusing notes can be useful to those who do not have any.
Step 3. Talk about literature
A lively debate on the texts is a good way to raise your interest and review the content. Make sure you support the discussion by referring to the text and finding opportunities to use "evidence" to support your ideas.
Step 4. Compare the previous tests
If your classmates are comfortable sharing the results of their previous exams in class, you can compare them to see what kind of answer seems to be the most appreciated by that particular professor. Knowing, for example, whether the teacher tends to give higher grades for long, detailed answers, or for answers that are more direct to the core of the question, can help you determine which approach to use for exam answers.
Advice
- Don't wait until the last minute to study. Piling up the full study load to the last day is rarely an effective approach to an exam.
- Practice outlining the answers to the exam test questions. You may also be able to bring some to the teacher in advance to ask if you are on the right track regarding what the exam will be like.
- Try not to bother the teacher with too many questions regarding the exam. Students are usually expected to have followed each lesson carefully and will then be able to demonstrate that they were following carefully by providing accurate answers to the exam content.
