Can't live with them, can't graduate without them. We're talking tests here. Like it or not (and most would say not!), tests are an important academic assessment tool. Your performance on tests demonstrates how well you understand material, your ability to accomplish tasks, and how you absorb and interpret information. Knowing the material is key, but often that's not enough to ace an exam. Also essential is good preparation, which gets your brain ready and clears the way for calm and confidence. Here, are some tips to prep you for any test.
First of all keep in mind that good students begin the test preparation process several days before the actual test. It is a good idea to review your notes every day. Keep in mind that this is simply something to help you jog your memory about the day's topics. That way, you give your brain another chance to soak up the information. Hopefully, doing this review will make future studying less time consuming and less of a learning process. When you study for a test, you shouldn't be learning something completely new. Frantic last-minute cramming of new material results in faulty understanding, poor recall, and low exam grades. It is faster and easier to recall something you have already learned than to learn something entirely new.
Where you study is important. Find a place that's readily available with minimal distractions. A popular place for most students to study is at home. However, for some, home can be too distracting as it's easy to get side tracked. What may help is if you study in a place that's similar to the place where you're going to take the test. When you study, you might associate certain topics with the environment. So if you take the test in a similar environment, you can more easily retrieve these associations. For example, if you're going to write a test in a lecture room, it may help to study in a lecture room (if at all possible!)
The next item you need to determine is what kind of student are you? Do you work better in a group or by yourself? Some students find it easier to work in a study group. In this type of group you are allowed the opportunity to bounce ideas off of similar minds, gain valuable insight on something you may have overlooked, and focus on critical areas of the test. However, some students find it easier to work alone. They may find their studying skills don't match the others around them or possibly a group setting to be too distracting. Think about how you like to study, do you like to ask others questions or their thoughts on a topic? Or do you prefer to read and interpret the material yourself? Find which way which best fits your studying style and stick with it.
There are various methods you can use when studying. For example, when studying for a test you may like to read through your textbook, read through course notes, answer textbook questions, re-do past assignments, review previous tests, research online, or just talk to friends or teachers about it the topic. You can also use memory-improving techniques like mnemonics, visualization, and association to recall everything you need. Trying a combination of these different studying methods (and then tracking your results) will really assist you in doing well.
A method that works efficiently for most people is studying in small pieces instead of large chunks of time when possible. Studying in large chunks of time can be counterproductive as it increases the chance that you will overwhelm your brain with information and start forgetting things. If you study in small pieces of time, you aren't absorbing all of this information at once and it gives you a chance to rest. Take study breaks away from your desk or wherever you are studying. Let the break be a time to think about other things. Use some break time to reflect, not constantly review what you have just studied. Prioritize! Make a list of what you intend to study, prioritize the list and stick to it!
First of all keep in mind that good students begin the test preparation process several days before the actual test. It is a good idea to review your notes every day. Keep in mind that this is simply something to help you jog your memory about the day's topics. That way, you give your brain another chance to soak up the information. Hopefully, doing this review will make future studying less time consuming and less of a learning process. When you study for a test, you shouldn't be learning something completely new. Frantic last-minute cramming of new material results in faulty understanding, poor recall, and low exam grades. It is faster and easier to recall something you have already learned than to learn something entirely new.
Where you study is important. Find a place that's readily available with minimal distractions. A popular place for most students to study is at home. However, for some, home can be too distracting as it's easy to get side tracked. What may help is if you study in a place that's similar to the place where you're going to take the test. When you study, you might associate certain topics with the environment. So if you take the test in a similar environment, you can more easily retrieve these associations. For example, if you're going to write a test in a lecture room, it may help to study in a lecture room (if at all possible!)
The next item you need to determine is what kind of student are you? Do you work better in a group or by yourself? Some students find it easier to work in a study group. In this type of group you are allowed the opportunity to bounce ideas off of similar minds, gain valuable insight on something you may have overlooked, and focus on critical areas of the test. However, some students find it easier to work alone. They may find their studying skills don't match the others around them or possibly a group setting to be too distracting. Think about how you like to study, do you like to ask others questions or their thoughts on a topic? Or do you prefer to read and interpret the material yourself? Find which way which best fits your studying style and stick with it.
There are various methods you can use when studying. For example, when studying for a test you may like to read through your textbook, read through course notes, answer textbook questions, re-do past assignments, review previous tests, research online, or just talk to friends or teachers about it the topic. You can also use memory-improving techniques like mnemonics, visualization, and association to recall everything you need. Trying a combination of these different studying methods (and then tracking your results) will really assist you in doing well.
A method that works efficiently for most people is studying in small pieces instead of large chunks of time when possible. Studying in large chunks of time can be counterproductive as it increases the chance that you will overwhelm your brain with information and start forgetting things. If you study in small pieces of time, you aren't absorbing all of this information at once and it gives you a chance to rest. Take study breaks away from your desk or wherever you are studying. Let the break be a time to think about other things. Use some break time to reflect, not constantly review what you have just studied. Prioritize! Make a list of what you intend to study, prioritize the list and stick to it!
About the Author:
HelpMeToStudy.org is the best resource for learning new study skills, transforming your study habits and finding the best study tips available. We will help you change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | Learn How To Get Better Grades
No comments:
Post a Comment