It’s finals week, and
you’re trying to make the most of your study time. You probably know by now
that cramming isn’t the best way to learn (or live), but even the best students
usually have to hustle at the end of the semester to prepare for a busy line-up
of exams.
Before you hit the
books, review these study secrets, which will maximize your cramming efforts
and help you stay sane, too.
Plan Your Attack
At the beginning of
any study session, review exactly what you need to accomplish and set your
priorities. How much time do you have? What do you need to study? How and where
will you work best? Taking a few minutes to devise a plan will keep you from
feeling overwhelmed, plus make sure you won’t forget an essential task or
prioritize inappropriately.
When I sit down for a
study session, I make a list of the topics I need to review and how much time
each will require. I then create a schedule with 30-minute time slots, which I
fill first with the topics that are giving me the most trouble.
Review Readings
You won’t be able to
re-read your assignments for the semester, but you should go over all of your
reading notes. If you didn’t keep good reading notes, find book reviews or
secondary sources with summaries of themes and important points.
Next, if you have
time, read the introduction and conclusion of the articles or books you’ll be
tested on. It can also be helpful to work with a classmate to review the most
important passages and talk through the main arguments.
When I review
readings, I rely on annotations that I made the first time I read to help me
skim later. Obviously, annotating is something you have to do before you cram,
so it may not help you this week. But, if you didn’t use an annotation method
this semester, you should next semester. Careful annotation will help you
identity key arguments and supporting points without having to reread the
entire text. Here’s a short tutorial on one method for annotating a text.
Space Out Repetitions
If you have a lot of
information you need to memorize, you’re probably planning to rely on
repetition. It’s widely known that repetition aids memory, but what most of us
don’t realize is that how we space those repetitions is important, too. We
learn better when we space out study repetitions over time, rather than
bunching them together.
What’s more,
intervals—or leaving time in between repetitions—are not the most efficient use
of study time. Instead, try interleaving. Leave one subject of study, review
another, and then come back. You’ll find the best results if you block your
study repetitions in a randomized order. For example, if you have three
subjects to review, start with the first, then move on to the third, back to
the first, on to the second, back to the third, then second. Try not to repeat
the pattern so that your brain has to guess what comes next.
Study in a Similar Context
Have you ever walked
into a familiar room and had an old memory pop up? That happens because
contextual information—sights, sounds, smells, and feelings—can affect our
ability to recall. In other words, our surroundings often cue memories.
I like to study in a
library or an empty lecture hall since the temperature, sounds, and smells are
similar to the exam setting. I begin by taking five minutes to sit quietly and
clear my head in order to get into an exam-like state of focus before studying.
Don’t Skip on Sleep
Studying is the key to
testing success, but what many students fail to appreciate is that sleep is
also essential. Sleep deprivation hinders your ability to perform complex
cognitive tasks, so, sacrificing a few hours sleep for extra cramming time can
actually be counterproductive.
Even if it means less
time spent with your material, make sure you sleep well the night before an
exam. Stay away from caffeine, limit naps to 30 minutes, and turn of your
mobile devices.
No comments:
Post a Comment