The transition from highschool to college is a big one in regards to the amount of freedom you have, being away from home, the social scene, and most importantly, the academics. School work in college is nowhere near the same as it was in high school. In college, the material is harder, the work is more independent, and with other things going on, it may be hard to stay focused on your school work. Here are some tips and tricks I have adopted over the past year to prepare you for midterms, in addition to study habits for all tests.
I suggest finding a place to study outside of your room. Whether you live in a dorm or an apartment, it can be insanely tempting to try and study from your bed. From my experience, that has never done me any good. I lose focus studying in my bed, and end up getting extremely tired. Also, make sure where you study is quiet enough for you to get your work done efficiently!
Be sure to take breaks every so often. I know if I overwork myself, I start to lose focus and not retain any information. Taking a study break allows your brain to relax and recharge for your next few hours of studying. If you are even too tired to continue, take a longer break, and start fresh a while after.
Most importantly, do not cram for any test, let alone your midterms or finals! While you should obviously study up until the day before the exam, starting a few weeks early will allow you to gradually absorb the information and not have to put so much pressure on yourself to remember it all at once. If you start early, you’ll only need to do a little a day. By the time the exam comes around, you will be ready to go! Make sure though, to continue reviewing previous information to make sure you truly remember it before exam time.
While I can go on and on about how important study tips are, these three have to be the most important. Trust me, I know that this seems like a lot, but once you receive that A on your exam, you will not regret it at all. Stay focused and determined and you will do amazing. Good luck on midterms everyone!