1) Know your study habits- this one is very important especially for those high schoolers looking at colleges. In college, everyone studies. I will admit that in high school, I did not study. So when coming to SMC, I was totally lost. Some people went to the library religiously, others sat in the lounge and some sat on their beds or at their desks. I have to say that I tried EVERYTHING. For me, the library did not help. The only time I go to the library is when I need to get some serious work done. I can't study there because it is ust too quiet that every little noise distracts me. So normally I end up in our lounge, sitting on the floor, listening to classical music. I promise you, if you know your study habits early on, you will get a lot more done.
2) Take breaks- Sure, studying for 12 hours straight may help you get a lot of information into your system, but in the end your brain will just be so mushy that it won't matter how much you studied. This sort of goes along with number one. Know how long you can keep your attention to one thing. If it is two hours, then studying the material for two hours, then get up and go for a walk, chat with friends or go get something to eat. I know that my attention span is only about 2 hours, after that, I don't remember anything and concentrating becomes much harder. When I break it up, I am able to retain more information.
3)Talk to your Professor- make sure you find out all the little details about the exam. No, I am not saying to ask for a copy of the exam, that is just plain dumb, but ask the format, are there multiple choice? short answer? essays? That way you just know what is on it so when you get into the testing site you don't completly freak out when you see an all multiple choice exam when you thought it was all going to be essay. Also, talking to your professor about questions you may have is a great idea. They are always willing to help you to understand the material better.
4)Night before the exam- No matter how unprepared you may feel the night before, make sure you get a good nights sleep. Getting the rest you need before an exam is crucial to your success. I would say that you should be getting about 6-8 hours of a good sleep before an exam. Also, before your exam, EAT FOOD. I can't even tell you how many times I have gone into an exam and the person sitting behind has a stomach that is grumbling so loud that it totally distracts me. Don't be one of those people that distracts everyone else with your stomach rumbles.
5) It the exam- as much as you may want to wear your favorite pair of sweatpants and the biggest, comfiest sweatshirt you may own, DON'T. It is proven that students who "dress up" or go to an exam not in their pajamas tend to do better than those in their pajamas. I assume this is because when you actually have to get out of bed, do your hair and put on a pair of jeans and a nicer shirt, it wakes you up a little more than just slipping out of bed.
I guess those are all the tips I have. I might end up coming up with more as the week goes by, but I will let you know! I plan on keeping you updated about my exams!
Love and studying,
Susanna
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I'll agree with you; you need to find a method that works for you. I found that I need a quiet space where I can read my notes aloud to myself. I process the information better that way. Always try to stay current and organized over the semester; it saves the stress of trying to gather all that you need. Hope things work out well for you. I scored a 90 today on my last Nursing exam....now the summative evaluations and the final next week! Good luck and get some sleep! Christine :)
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