| |
Avoid cramming by planning ahead.
Cramming is only useful as a last resort.
Regularly spaced study periods are the most effective way to learn.
Get Ready for Finals
1. Plan your time wisely.
-
Gather together all of your materials for each
course
-
Identify the days and times of all of your exams.
-
Set Priorities (look at the relative value of the
exams and your standing in the class)
-
Create a daily study plan, budgeting your time
based upon your priorities and your level of prior preparation.
2. Plan and organize the content areas you need to
study.
-
Set priorities for the material you need to study
-
Identify what source of information will most
likely be covered on the final.
-
Survey your notebook, textbook, past tests, study
guides, other handouts, and syllabus.
-
Concentrate on the material that is most
important.
-
Concentrate on the material that is less
difficult to understand (avoid material that is very complex and
time-consuming.
3. Skim over all of the material you identified.
-
Create a list of the most likely topics to be
covered on the final.
-
Use the table of contents, your highlights in the
book and notes, the syllabus, ask your fellow classmates.
4. Employ a learning strategy.
-
Choose a study strategy that forces you to test
your knowledge as it will be required on the exam, e.g., recall or
recognition
-
Create flashcards, a study guide, practice test
questions, graphic organizers, charts, etc.
Last
minute cramming
There may be some times when you have to cram.
Keep in mind that time is limited, so you need to do what will help you
the most on the test.
TIPS
-
Maintain a positive attitude. Tell yourself that
you can do it!
-
Do not allow doubts or worry to interfere with
your studying, make the best of the time you have.
-
Take frequent but short breaks-getting up and
moving around a little is a good break
-
Anticipate possible exam questions
-
Write down the main points as you identify them
-
Study from the top down. Select the most general
and significant ideas to review first, then use learn more and more
details as time permits.
-
Use your textbook well. Read summaries, review
questions, practice tests, etc.
-
Write down the main ideas of each lecture from
your notes
-
Use stimulants such as coffee carefully, if at
all.
-
Know your sleeping habits. When does lack of
sleep begin affecting your performance more than lack of study?
-
When you cut your sleep, try to sleep for an
entire sleep cycle (about three hours).
-
Have a back-up waking system in place.
-
On the day of the exam, briefly review your
condensed notes.
-
Be sure to eat a nutritious breakfast the day of
the exam
-
Leave yourself extra time to get to the exam, the
unexpected may happen.
-
Have a positive attitude when you enter the exam
room
References
Information adapted from Test-Taking Power,
Fred Orr and
Study Strategies for College, Theodore O.
Knight.
|
|
