It’s getting to be that time of the semester. I know, I know, no one likes to hear it, but reckoning week is upon us. Midterms start in less than a week, and nobody I know is anywhere near ready (including myself). Luckily, I had a successful midterm week last semester, and I plan on implementing some of the same tricks I used last semester.
Perk up in class
Okay, yes. You really should be present and active in all of your classes, but come on! Some of the classes are so boring that you just can’t help but get trapped in a world of emails and Google calendars. Whether your teacher is droning on about the importance of seed coverings, or you’re stuck learning about what seems like the history of the entire universe, perking up in class now will almost guarantee some hints on what to study for the midterm. A lot of the classes that seem boring to you depend on you working smarter and not harder. By putting in a little extra effort to pay attention in class now, you are almost guaranteed to catch some hints about the most important things to study for the exams.
Go to office hours
Most professors love when students come in during office hours! If there’s something you know you don’t completely understand, make your best attempt at understanding it based on the textbook and peers, and then ask for clarification during office hours. Your professor will more than likely have a concise answer that will change the way you think about the topic!
Make a study group
Got a class crush? This is the perfect time to get magically ~closer~ with that cute boy (or girl!) sitting in the row behind you. Last semester, I spent hours in the library before every biology exam with one of my closest friends, and just being able to talk it out with her helped me to understand the material even better by forcing me to explain it. Plus, by starting early you’ll have extra time to figure out the concepts you need to review during office hours.
Hit the books
Yeah, it sucks. But sometimes, textbook reading has to happen. Honestly, I love reading, and I still hate reading textbooks because of how dry the words seem to be on the page. Because of how dry the reading can be, rewards work well for reading! For myself, if I read and take notes actively for a set number of pages of the reading, I’ll allow myself a break on my phone or to take a snack break, and then I’ll refocus by highlighting the notes I’ve taken to continue my reading. It sounds like a tedious process, but a lot of reading can be knocked out in this way.
Reread old notes
In order to understand new material, taking the time and having the patience to understand the old material is extremely important, especially in math-based classes like chemistry or accounting. By starting now and rereading your old notes slowly before the exam, you’ll start to absorb more and more of the material, and problems that seem overwhelmingly complicated will likely start to make more sense. This tip can be accompanied by practice! By redoing old problems or going over the questions at the end of a chapter, you will likely be even more prepared for the exam.
Overall, there are plenty of ways to avoid a messy midterm, but these proved to be the most effective tactics I used last semester. By staying ahead of the game and starting early instead of cramming the night before, the midterm slump is sure to disappear, giving you an easier transition between classes and your spring break plans!