what are some tips to study for exams? methods?

Question

serious answers only

math, science, american gov

more specific-geometry,biology,am.govt

Answer 1

Althought it kind of goes without saying, UNDERSTANDING the material is the most important thing -- this sounds over-simple, but let me explain more specifically: in math and physics, understanding WHY and HOW all the proofs are arrived at is critical, because it helps you understand how they are all interconnected. So, you might not be able to REMEMBER the exact formula for total distance covered under constant accelleration with a given initial velocity, but starting from simpler formulas you will be able to re-create the needed formula. This also helps you to spot errors in your own memorization of formulas: was it d=1/2 a t^2 or d = 1/2 a^2 t? If you understand HOW the formula is derrived and what it means, you will be able to correct yourself if you have mis-remembered a formula (I caught myslef doing that right here on Y!A just yesterday in a physics answer -- something didn't look right so I went back and re-worked out the formula and found an error in one of my replies).

Similarly with geometry and trigonometry, each new theorem or postulate is proved based on the axioms or proofs before them -- understand HOW and WHY these axioms, combined together, lead to the proof of the postulate, and you will be able to apply this reasoning to virtually all problems. You learn to recognize how to break down a seemingly complex problem into smaller inter-related steps which you CAN solve, and this leads you to the answer to the big problem.

Other sciences and history are similar -- understand how things RELATE to one another, and you will be able to see the patern. Understand how the empire-building of the late 1800's led to the mutual-agression treaties which led to the tensions which led to WW1 which led to the treaty of Verailles, and you will be much better able to answer questions about anything and anyone involved in this stretch of history.

Try to build a good working vocabulary of the basic latin and greek root words used to name everything in the sciences (biology and zoology and medicine use mainly latin while physics and chemistry use mainly greek). If these weren't presented in class, look up each vocabulary word in a good reference dictionary (normally the unabridged are best for this) to learn the root words and their meanings. These help you to reason-out things which you have not remembered or sseen before.

Memorizing facts is great if those facts are exactly what is on the test -- but understanding patterns, underlying structures, and interrelations between things gives you a much better WORKING command of the subject. For this reason, I reccomend not "cramming" for tests, but rather re-reading the class notes and study materials and then when you encounter things in them that you DON'T understand, go online or to the library and try to learn more about them. It is more work, but produces a better functional command of the subject, which will help you not only with THIS test but also with all future tests (including real life!).

Don't forget that while studying properly for the exam is important (and the answers above mine address this), HOW you take the exam is also very important:

Remember to get plenty of sleep the night before the exam so your brain is not dead tired on exam day. Get up early enough that your brain has a chance to start dealing with the day, and have a good breakfast so your brain has fuel and you are not distracted by hunger.

Start by answering the questions you know (or know how to work out quickly) first. It makes no sense to spend most of the test beating yourself against the ones you don't know, and not have any time left at the end for the several questions you WOULD have gotten right if you had answered them in time. Get all the slam-dunks done first, THEN come back and try to do the tougher ones. This will increase your score for the same level of knowledge. Plus as a bonus, often times a later question in the test will remind you of the right answer for a question you didn't know at first.

For multiple-choice type tests, remember a couple of simple rules:
(1) Cover the possible answers with your hand or a sheet of paper before you read the question, then ask yourself what the answer is -- if you think you know the answer, see if it is one of the possible answers listed and if so mark that answer and move on (your first instincts are almost always right if you have studied the material and understand it). If it isn't on there, this is one of those questions you don't know as well as you should, so move on and come back to it later.
(2) Once all the slam-dunks are done, come back and re-read the unanswered questions carefully and carefully read each answer. Multiple choice tests usually fall into a very predictable pattern: There is one answer that is flat-out wrong and you'll know it is wrong the moment you read it, only an idiot would mark that one. There is one answer that is definitely wrong once you think about it for a moment, and one or two that sound right at first but some detail or basic assumption is wrong. Finally there is the right answer. Remember, if one of the answers is definitely wrong (first or second group), then by definition "all of the above" is just as wrong and now you have eliminated 2 of the possible wrong answers.
(3) If you run out of time or just flat out don't know, take a guess. Not marking any answer is never right, a sheer random guess is right 15 to 25% of the time, and an educated guess will be right 50% or more of the time.

On non-multiple-choice tests that require working out problems (such as math tests) always show your work -- most instructors give partial credit for doing the work even if you messed up somewhere along the line.

On essay type tests, make sure you explain your reasoning in your answer -- it shows that at least you are thinking about the question, and even if you don't give the answer the instructor wanted at least they may give you partial credit for having given it as much thought as you did.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

for the math one i would do all the problems form the end of each chapter at least 3 times, also memorize the formulas and know how to apply them via doing problems-solving them that is!
for govt and the other subjects that require you to memorize things, read and re-read your book and then outline the chapters with only the main points and type it and make it into your review. for science you need time, practice, lots of effort and if you do not understand the material spend twice as much time understanding it!also you can use flashcards to help you memorize the terminology for science classes as well as for governement. also, for govt. look for the terms on the side of the page or the ones that are listed:you have a higher a chanceof getting those terms on your terms!practice, practice and practice since prcatice makes perfect! for 1 hour inside the classroom=4 hours outside of studying

Answer 4

A good way to study is when you just get your notes just read them over a few times a night and when you have a test look for the details (this is just what my history teacher said. Hope it works)

Answer 5

This website I found had a ton of ideas about great studying tips! It's from a college website. I think you could find a few things of value. :) Best of luck to you! I can't seem to get motivated to write my essay that's due by Sunday at midnight! I need FOCUS!

Answer 6

look at syllobus, notes, book and anything the teacher said twice or more. with the math, you just have to understand the concept of how to work the problem... for bio, you need to know how things work and the technical names.... for am. gov. you need to know dates of what happened when.

Answer 7

Depends on what exam you are studying for. Please provide some more information :)

Answer 8

how-to-study.com