Whether you were struggling last year or not, becoming an "A" student or maintaining an "A" average is a goal that every student should have. Grades are very important, but even more, so is understanding the concepts. Here are some ways to become an "A" student this school year. Organizational Skills Being organized is an essential skill to have if you want to be an "A" student. This means you have to become very familiar with to-do lists and planners. Have a folder with sections for each subjec t that you do so that you can easily and effectively file handouts, worksheets, notes and test papers. Studying : As it relates to studying, create a list with the topics or points that you wish to study based on the time that you have to study. However, be realistic with what you can achieve in each study session. There are also various study techniques that you can make use of! Homework : When it comes to homework, be sure to create a list of your h...
Studying for exams can be brutal, especially when you only have a week or a few days before the exam period begins. If you find yourself preparing for your exams at the last minute, there is no need to panic,
Natken has your back! Here are 8 simple steps that can assist you in your
last-minute study sessions.
Step #1: Get Organized.
Although it is natural to feel stressed and overwhelmed, these feelings can be reduced by making a simple study schedule. It only takes a few minutes to formulate a clear and concise plan to guide you in your studies. Grab your calendar and assign each exam to their associated date. Based on the days that you have an exam, determine the time you have available to study for each subject. Select small portions of time and assign a major topic and its sub-topics to cover in the allotted time. Be realistic with what you can achieve in each session!
Step #2: How do you Learn?
Knowing your learning style is essential in maximizing your academic potential. Before you begin studying, take a quiz to find out your learning style at Natken Educational Services. Use your learning style to personalize these study sessions. Auditory learners may listen to podcasts or videos and read material aloud. Visual learners may use pictures, graphs and charts when reviewing information, use flashcards or write down ideas and answers to questions. Tactile learners may participate in activities that include the sense of touch such as using a computer to type notes, write while reading or talking, or use bright colors to highlight reading material and turn it into posters. Using your learning style allows you to study faster and easier, a favorable outcome in last-minute studying.
Step #3: Study Material
Studies have shown that active learning strengthens memory and aids future recall. A popular technique is to use flashcards during your last minute studying. Devise questions and acquire their answers from topics that are relevant to the syllabus, and keep practicing using the cards to reinforce what you have learned. Be sure not to overcomplicate the questions and focus on one concept per card. Past papers are also very important and effective study material. Not only do past papers reveal the format in which questions may be asked, they expose you to the type of questions asked over the years and the frequency at which they appear in subsequent years.
Step #4: Join Group Sessions
Step #5: Strengthen your Weak Areas.
There will be some subject areas that are harder to grasp to you than others. Give additional focus to these areas to ensure you grasp fundamental concepts. It is crucial to use your flashcards, review questions and past paper questions when reviewing these difficult topics for full coverage. If you do not know what your weak areas are, take a practice test and use your results as an indication of what you should aim to improve on before the exam.
Overworking yourself is a quick way to become overwhelmed and decrease productivity. Studies show that taking frequent breaks is essential in remaining productive and increasing your ability to focus. Try studying for 45 minutes and taking a 5-15 minute break. Use this time to take a walk, socialize with friends, take a nap, listen to music or have a healthy snack. It is also important to drink water regularly and get plenty of rest, especially the night before the exam.
Step #7: Limit Distractions.
Although it is important to take breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout and becoming overburdened, it is important to have boundaries with yourself with what you allow to distract you. Select an environment that is best suited for you; some students require complete silence to focus while others work best with a little background noise. You can also avoid distractions by turning off irrelevant alerts on your phone and minimizing the number of tabs on your computer. Creating and maintaining a clean workspace can also keep you organized and allow you to think more clearly.
Step #8: Practice Positivity.
A little motivation can go a long way. Maintaining a positive attitude during stressful situations can be quite difficult. Rewarding yourself after the completion of tasks, especially without any distractions, can be a good way to encourage yourself to do more. You should create a rewarding system that is customized to you, and include your study mates and/or family members to assist in implementing this system where applicable.
Studying last-minute isn’t the end of the world, but it certainly isn’t a position you want to be in. Ideally, you should plan ahead and give yourself adequate time to revise before the exam period approaches. However, if you do find yourself in this position, stay calm and follow these steps.
Best of luck to you on your exams!
“He who puts off nothing till tomorrow has done a great deal.”
— Baltasar Gracián
References
22 Last Minute Exam Preparation Strategies. (2019, August 23). Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://www.edsys.in/exam-preparation-strategies/
Loh, S. (Ed.). (2016). 7 Last-Minute Exam Tips to Save your Grades. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://eduadvisor.my/articles/7-last-minute-exam-tips-that-could-save-your-grades/
Staff, M. (2017, November 10). Last-Minute Study DOS and Don'ts. Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/last-minute-study-dos-and-donts/
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