By CARI DIMARGO
RED STAFFER
They Suck.
And there's no way around it.
Will This Be on The Test?
First, figure out exactly what you’ll be tested on. Yes, that sounds pretty obvious. But the clearer the picture you have, the better you’ll understand what to study. Find out exactly which chapters, formulas, ideas, etc. that will be on the exam. Don’t be one of those annoying students who raises their hand every five minutes asking, “Will this be on the test?” But as you move through the semester (and especially in the last few weeks before an exam) make sure you know exactly what you should be reviewing.Making a Study Schedule and Ugh, Actually Studying
Then make a study schedule -- for instance, review Chapters 1 and 2 on Monday, Chapter 3 and some formulas on Tuesday, and so on. This seems obvious, but by setting out a clear schedule, you’ll find yourself less overwhelmed. The trick is breaking it into manageable chunks, even if you haven’t studied all semester. (Which you should have. But we’re just saying.)It’s a good idea to be BFF with your highlighters all semester. First, it forces you to analyze the most important info while you’re reading it; then during review, you can just read over the highlighted sections for a quick refresh if that’s all you need.
Review your notes and handouts, and see if you can arrange a note swap with a classmate -- the two of you should photocopy or print out your class notes and give each other a copy. That way, you’ll get anything you missed during class or simply another perspective on the material. No two people ever take down the same notes.
Check with the department to see if there are old exams on file. Many universities save old exams for students to look at. If they offer this opportunity, take it! You’ll get a good sense of what you’ll be asked. This is especially helpful if the exam has essays. You’ll want to review specific examples of things you’d want to write about in your essays.
When Flashcards Can Help
Flashcards will help best for rote memorization. Need to know the names of all the Chinese dynasties and their time spans? Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards. If you need to memorize more analytical stuff, however, writing out a list or creating a mneumonic device will probably be of more service. Flashcards are good for quick bits of info, but even just writing something down will help you to memorize it.When to Taper -- AKA, the Delight of Doing Nothing
Your brain is not a clown car. You don’t want sit down to take the test with a brain that’s stuffed so full of info that it all jumbles together. In an ideal world, the night before your exam should be a quick review of everything you’ve studied so far. (Don’t you love this uber-fake ideal world?) Eat a nutritious dinner, watch a couple episodes of ‘Family Guy’ and get a good night’s rest. One million bonus points if you actually live in an ideal world.Pulling an All-Nighter: When to Do It, When Not To
All-nights can be a savior if, and only if:
1. You don’t need to drive to the exam. It’s SO not safe to drive when sleep-deprived.2. You have nothing to do after the exam (no other exams, classes, work, etc.).
3. You are familiar with the use of coffee or other energy drinks.
4. You have gotten decent amounts of sleep during the week leading up to your all-nighter.
5. You know you can function on limited sleep.
6. You understand that all-nighters work far better with a morning exam than an afternoon one, for obvious reasons.
Do NOT attempt to pull an all-nighter if:
1. Any of the above don’t apply.2. You’ve studied regularly and gone to most of the classes. What are you so worried about? To get a good grade, you need sleep, too.
3. You’re completely panicking. You’ll just flip out at, like, 4 a.m., and then you’ll be exhausted AND panicking. If you get a good night’s sleep, at least you’ll be calm for the exam.
