Scarlett's Blog

Blog entry for April 19, 2010

So, it's exam time. And I'm a procrastinator. I know a lot of you are too. I mean I'm a real procrastinator when it comes to studying. The earliest I start studying is the day before the test or exam. Sometimes even the day of.

So here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks to studying for, and making it through exams, when you don't have weeks to prep.

 

Now:

1) Go to the class where your prof reviews what is on the exam!

The Day Before:

2) Be realistic. If you haven't attended classes or done the work, and you're just staring studying now, you probably shouldn't be planning on getting an A.

3) Look over your course outline, figure out how much the test is worth, see if there is a grading curve, and look for any tips or info about the exam including structure: multiple choice vs. short answer. I also like to calculate the grade I would have in the class if I got a 0 on the final.

4) If possible, study a practice test. They often contain some of the same questions as the real tests. This will give you a good indication of the type of questions that you will be asked.

5) Next move on to studying the notes. If you, like me, don't take notes, you can look over the lecture slides or...

6) Study with friends. Use their knowledge (and maybe their notes)! Ask your friends questions. As they explain to you, it'll help them cement their knowledge, and it'll help you learn it.

7) Don't stay up late cramming. Get a good night's sleep so your brain will function the next day.

The day of:

8) If your test is in the afternoon, review what you studied, or continue where you left off

9) Eat a banana. The potassium fights nervousness (or so I'm told).

10) Don't study until the last second. Quit a half hour before your test, have your banana, walk around, go to the washroom and settle yourself.

11) Go to your exam a bit early. There's no point stressing about one more thing.

During the Exam:

12) First, look over the test and think about the parts you know and the parts you do not know. Focus on the parts you know. There's no point wasting half your exam time on some question you're not going to get marks for anyway.

13) Bring water and a snack to the exam. If you're getting stressed, take a 5 minute break, have a drink and a snack. But please, for all of our sake, avoid that crinkly paper like chip bags etc.

14) Don't second guess yourself. You waste time, and often change from a correct answer to an incorrect one anyway.

15) Lastly, remember, you only need to be better than some of the other students. Everyone can't fail!

View previous entries here.