What is the ABSOLUTELY BEST way to study/prepare for an exam? (i.e. Midterms and Finals)?

Question

Hi, I'm a first-year undergrad in Biology. I need advice on how best to prepare for exams. My first semester went pretty bad for me, so I figured out some things which helps me out a lot. For me it's:

- Getting plenty of rest at least 2 days before an exam
- Reviewing for 10-30 mins. each week (I prefer Thurs. since Fri. Sat. and Sun. I kind of get lazy)
- Doing a favourite hobby (playing video games/drawing - but I always feel guilty afterwards for not studying)

I need some more tips on how to prepare for an exam...Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Go somewhere (not your dorm) that no one will bother you. It's important that their are no distractions when you are in the final stretch.

Answer 2

How do you learn? Each person learns differently, so it's important to know YOUR style of learning so you can incorporate it into your study sessions. In addition, the more of your senses you can use when studying, the more likely you are to remember it.

For example:
Seeing - Learning by seeing things (most commonly reading textbooks or flashcards). Do you read the manual before you begin using a new toy?
Doing - Learning by doing things (most commonly writing, i.e. taking notes, copying paragraphs, etc.). Do you just take out the new toy and figure out to use it by messing around with it?
Hearing - Learning by hearing things (most commonly listening to lectures). Do you learn to use the new toy by asking someone else how to do it?

If you are a "seer", then most of your focus should be on reading the material. If you are a "doer", most of the focus should be writing, and if you are a "hearer", most of the focus should be on hearing the material (have a friend read it to you or quiz you).

That being said, the more of the senses you can incorporate into your sessions, the better. So reading the material, copying it down/taking notes, and having a friend read it out loud or quizzing you often works best. In addition, if you eat or drink something while studying, research has shown that eating or drinking that same thing while taking the test can trigger your memory. The same goes for listening - if you listen to certain music while studying, listening to that same music during the test helps your recall details. However, of course, most teachers won't let you listen to your MP3 player during a test. :) Even with that, though, classical music in the background can help focus you, as it's been shown to improve memory.

Answer 3

The absolute BEST way to learn anything is to write it out, probably more than once. This involves your whole body in the learning and the information sets better. It's lengthy, and can seem arduous, but thus is any learning.

Answer 4

The best way to study for an exam is to review your notes.
Read it, memorize it and test your self