Exam time is upon us, which mean you are either reviewing your notes, finally doing those readings you kept putting off over and over, or you’re out celebrating and trying desperately not to think about anything school-related. Whatever your situation, you could use some tips to study smartly over the next few weeks. We polled our HC UBC writers to learn their best advice for studying in a crunch, and they happily delivered. Here are 8 study tips to help you survive exams.
1. “Try rewriting your class notes. It can be super tedious, but I find that it’s more helpful than just rereading the notes.”
2. “I like to make a schedule of what days I’m going to study for each exam.”
“Plan out a studying schedule and stick to it, especially if you have consecutive exam dates“
3. “For courses that have class presentations, textbook material as well as additional class notes, try and make handwritten notes that combine all three sources. While it takes some time to make those notes, you will be mentally relaxed knowing that your focus will solely be on one detailed document rather than being juggled between three different sources when you need to prepare for a midterm or a final exam!”
4. “Do a group studying session so that you can discuss topics and ask questions, which could help you retain the information better.”
5. “If you have to cram, pull an all-nighter two nights before the exam instead of the night before. Sleep is crucial for memory retention.”
6. “TAKE BREAKS. Don’t only study all day, add in exercises, or even just walks outside, eat healthy. It is impossible to keep focus for so long without a break or while sacrificing your health.”
7. “Find a friend who’s not in your class or maybe not even in your program, someone who knows absolutely nothing on the topic. Get them to listen to you while you explain your notes to them. Use conversational language, avoid overly technical explanations and explain even the most basic fundamentals if your friend looks confused. Teaching other people the material is a great way to force your brain to organize the information you need to know. And of course, if your friend gets bored, offer to switch so they can do some explaining too.”
8. “Take frequent breaks so that the mind gets enough time to reboot. Try to test yourself using flashcards or quizzes. Definitely practice recall, stay hydrated and catch adequate sleep.”
Media credits: giphy.com