Should I cram before the big test or learn the material slowly so that it sticks? How much coffee should I drink to stay awake while I study?
Will coffee interrupt my thought process if I drink too much?
Should I use flashcards and quiz myself? Or rewrite verbatim what I need to know so that it becomes committed to memory?
There are a million different questions you can ask about the best way to prepare for a big test. But what if you changed that train of thought and considered not just this one test but rather your study habits in general? Whether you are a full-time student with upcoming exams in several subjects, or taking just one licensing exam, adopting healthy study habits will avoid trial and error when it comes to the exam. Studying is about more than sticky notes, a sharpened pencil, and enough Starbucks to make it through the night!
If you want to ace the exam, focus on four areas: confidence, time management, resources, and materials. If you are not prepared, you may find the test undermines your confidence and takes you. Test anxiety, stress, lack of sleep, and low confidence can hurt your grade more than the amount of time and energy you put into studying. The best way to get through the anxiety is to work not just on your mental recall but also on your entire mind-body connection, self-esteem, health and wellness, and self-assuredness. Your worst enemy might not be your lack of knowledge or preparation; it might just be your negative thinking and self-depreciation. The Little Engine That Could was not the biggest steam engine or the one that was the most prepared for the task — it was the one that believed he could do it, forged ahead with a positive attitude, and never looked back.
Confidence
Many people question whether they should go back and change their answers or give them a second shot. Although it is good to revisit questions you might have struggled with the first time around, studies show that if you are on the fence about the answer, your first guess is usually your best. So, believe in your own abilities and avoid going back to ruminate on whether you answered correctly or not. Take the exam, exhale, and have the confidence to know that you did your best, and that is the best you can do.
Time Management
Using your time wisely is a major key to acing any exam. To make the best use of your study time, make sure you have what you need before you start so that you don’t have to chase down information and lose your train of thought. Calculate how much material there is to learn and memorize, and give yourself enough time for things to sink in. If you try to cram at the last minute, it will be more difficult to commit the material to memory for the long-term. Pay attention to the time of day when you seem most focused, and set that block aside for studying for the big test. There is no sense in trying to learn things when your brain just isn’t into it.
Resources and Materials
Not everyone learns the same way. Some of us are audio learners, and some of us are visual. Once you discover how you learn most effectively, use creativity to maximize your ability to absorb the materials and resources necessary. Spend time going through all the quizzes and reviews leading up to the test. Organize your thoughts on index cards. Rewrite the materials in your own words. Write the key points out by hand. There are countless apps designed to help you retain the information you need to get the grade you want, so use technology if that proves helpful to you.
Finally, use the techniques mentioned in this article, and you will be well on your way to a good grade. The better prepared you are, the more confidence you have in your grasp of the information, the less likely you are to suffer from test anxiety. Spend the time to study, and study smart. Don’t let your fear of the test allow the test to take control of your mind and body. You have done your homework — now enjoy the results of your study time and achieve the grade you want!
