If there’s one thing I’ve learned by my junior year of college, it’s the need to remain calm when it comes time to prepare for major tests and exams. And cramming material into your brain at the last minute is only setting yourself up for failure. I promise.
I’ll admit, I’m the type of person that begins to fret about an exam on the first day of class when the teacher distributes syllabi to all the students. I immediately note in my planner every date that an assignment is due, and I start to plan my weekends: when I should study for a quiz, when to make flashcards for a final, when to write a rough draft for a paper…my mind starts to go insane!
It’s true that a little planning in advance never hurts anyone, but studying requires balance. (I’m a bit obsessive, but I’m working on it!) It’s also true that if you plan your study schedule far enough in advance–noting in a calendar or on your computer when major assignments are due–that you can save yourself time and study LESS! Yes, I said LESS!
Some people think I’m crazy when I’m sitting in my room the night before a test watching TV or Netflix. But that’s the way I like to study…my brain is definitely not capable of cramming information at the last minute. Maybe that technique works for some college students, but I want to offer you some of my best advice when it comes to preparing for tests and exams.
1. Plan in advance
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you at least skim over your course syllabi at the beginning of the year so you have an idea of when major assignments will be due and when exams will be given. A little planning goes a LONG way. Personally, I’ll start “studying” (i.e. making flashcards, highlighting my notes, etc.), as far as two weeks in advance of a test. I prefer to do a little each day, even if it’s only for 30 minutes, and by the time “test Eve” rolls around, there’s honestly no studying left for me to do! When I feel I’ve studied so much there’s literally nothing left to study, that’s a good feeling! Also, repetition is good for the brain. It’s better to look at your notes periodically and briefly versus once in one sitting the night before. Ouch!
2. Stay organized
Staying organized relates to planning in advance, and organization is key to success in school. Keep a planner with due dates for assignments and exam dates listed. Organize your notes. Make flashcards. C’mon kids, we’re not in elementary school anymore! These are basic tips for studying that go such a long way if you simply keep up with your stuff. And the more your organize your stuff physically, the more your brain can relax mentally.
3. Don’t fret!
Calmness is key to success. I spent my first year of college worrying so much about grades, exams and my GPA…and I’ll admit those things still bring me anxiety. But at the end of the day, that worrying gets me nowhere. Instead, I try to take each day as it comes. I make a checklist of what I accomplish–nothing more and nothing less! I have to be realistic about what I can do in a day, what I need to do before tomorrow and what can wait until the weekend. I deserve some time to relax, too. We all do! Breaks are important because our brains cannot function when we try to feed them too much information at once.
A little studying, preparing and organizing a day goes a long way. In my opinion, you’ll save yourself so much time and stress, and you should see your grades improving. All that really matters is that you do your best–give it 100%–and you’ll see a nice ROI (return on investment) soon enough. Start your morning with a mental checklist, and see what you can accomplish this week!
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