When approaching the exam session, it is never too late to start a review. Here are some tips for setting up an effective review calendar that will help you get the grades you deserve.
Steps
Step 1. Get a sheet of paper and some different colored pens
A ruler can also help if you want to make a prospectus or list.
Step 2. List all the subjects you study and divide them into sub-categories
Literature, for example, can be divided into the different books you are studying and then further into chapters / themes / citations etc… Highlight or circle the different subjects with the various colors.
Step 3. Organize the different themes
Don't keep all the heavier topics in one day, and the ones you like in another.
Step 4. Determine which subjects you can spend only a little time on and which ones require most of the day to be able to memorize them
The latter must be reserved for those study sessions that do not tire you.
Step 5. Set days for big projects
First assign the days this way, bearing in mind that you may need to review and change the schedule later, then allow for extra time to handle the changes.
Step 6. For the remaining days, be sure to write down any other commitments you have, such as a job, class, meeting, or social event
Step 7. Decide what times you work best and set tasks that require more energy or focus at optimal times
Step 8. When setting up your other reviews in your journal or chart, also set times and make sure you start each day reasonably early
Step 9. Start the day with something you know you can accomplish
This will give you more motivation for the rest of the day. Make sure the next subject is something more challenging so that you don't put off all the worst topics until the end.
Step 10. The optimal concentration time is said to be 32 minutes, so keep this in mind when determining the time to devote to each session
Step 11. Give yourself regular breaks
If when you are doing the review you realize that you are working well, you can always decide to continue.
Step 12. Cross off subjects as you go through them, as it will give you a sense of accomplishment
Step 13. The most important thing is not to panic
Also, make sure you get enough sleep the night before the exam.
Advice
- Be realistic about the goals you can achieve, but remember it's all about trial and error. Even if it goes wrong, you can always adjust the schedule.
- Studying with a friend can be productive and fun. You can review common subjects and question each other about others you have learned. Even if you don't make the same arguments, you can motivate each other to work and help you maintain consistency in your study plans.
- When establishing the schedule, create one with only the subjects you need to review (for example mathematics, chemistry) and set another with the topics of each subject to be reviewed (for example the angles, the periodic table). This way you have a quick table and a more precise, detailed and focused one!
- Don't waste time making your calendar aesthetically beautiful. If you are a perfectionist and a messy table makes you nervous, make it neat and tidy, but don't spend precious time putting up beautiful pictures or painting it.
- Have a detailed schedule the night before, especially if it's a weekend. For example, 09:30: get up, take a shower. 10:00 am: breakfast, have a coffee, etc. 10:30 am: review the Russian Revolution… and so on! You will be surprised to see how many positive results you will get with precise planning.
