Now that we’re all getting a good feel for the fall semester and finally have a routine down, here come the dreaded midterms. Now, I’m going to be honest: when I was a freshman, I had no idea what midterms were and why people didn’t just call them exams. I also didn’t realize why they were such a big deal. Now, after taking 20+ midterms in my academic career, I can strongly say that they are a big deal and are so important. But the question is, how can I ensure that the first round of midterms goes smoothly for me?
The first thing I always do right when the semester begins is to put all of my exams and quizzes into my physical and digital planner. I like to see the spread of what exams I have when and whether any exams overlap in the same week because that means that I’ll be needing to study for two exams in a week, instead of just one. Now, I am the most type-B person I have ever met, but this one type-A method does assist a lot in preparing ahead of time.
Now, when it comes to actually studying, that’s where things can get tricky. Everybody learns at their own pace and in their own different ways, so I can only share what works for me, but this may not work for everyone else. The first thing I do is organize my notes by “units.” I use Notability to organize my class notes, so it lets me create subunits within a unit, which helps a lot. I revise my notes after each lecture to make sure the information sticks and I can see what I need clarification on. I use the revision notes to study, using the lecture slides as a reference for what the professor said in class. I’d much rather have all of my information in one place, rather than in a huge slideshow where I have a bunch of words written all over the place.
I strongly believe in the Pomodoro method when I study, as it sets a set amount of time I should be focused for. You can find these timers for free anywhere online, or you can download an app that tracks your progress. What’s cool about these timers is that you can adjust the length of your focus session and your break to cater to exactly what works for you.
Now, during these tough weeks of midterms, I strongly believe in taking care of yourself as well. You need to get good sleep to feel focused throughout the day. You need to do those hobbies that make you feel grounded. These things are key to also making sure that your midterm round goes smoothly and doesn’t cause any type of burnout for your later midterms. Good luck, everybody!