Studying & Test-taking Tips

Happy thanksgiving and welcome back to my blog! With the two midterms I have this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to give advice on how to study for midterms, and my essentials while writing exams. If you are a college or university freshmen, or are looking to change up your studying routine, this post can be helpful for you. I hope you enjoy and thanks for visiting my blog!

Studying Tips

#1 - Recognize the type of learner you are

Everyone absorbs information in different ways. There are the visual learners that use graphs, charts, and diagrams to remember information, verbal learners that speak the information to themselves or with another person, and physical learners that remember information through physical motions such as hand gestures. If you recognize what type of learner you are, your study techniques can be more effective.

#2 - Start studying early

I aim to finish making my studying sheets a week before my exam date. This allows me to cover all the information I need to know for my exam in a non-stressful way. If I time managed correctly, I can spend the last day of studying on reviewing everything and working on memorizing the information I struggled with the most.

#3 - Find a comfortable and quiet place

I'm the type of person that needs to be in a completely quiet (or almost quiet) area to be able to study. Everyone has their preferences, but what is most important is that where ever you choose to study, make sure it is where you can concentrate to be able to study efficiently!

#4 - Know what you need to study

One of the worst feelings during an exam is reaching a question and having no idea what it is asking and how to answer it. This can be avoided by knowing exactly what information you should be studying to prepare. Most professors will have a review class in preparation for the test or post online what students should know. If your professor doesn't provide information, ask! A simple email or visit during their office hours can make a big difference! Having a list of what you need to memorize can be a guide for your studying, as you can check off the information you memorize.

Test-taking Tips

#1 - Bring a water bottle

If you get nervous taking tests, drinking water can act as a way to calm you down. I personally like having water with me during tests so that if I ever get thirsty I know I can have water. Being thirsty during a test can be distracting!

#2 - Use the washroom beforehand

Another potential distraction can be avoided by using the washroom before a test, even if you aren't needing to at the moment. Tests can sometimes take three hours, so using the washroom beforehand is never a bad idea!

#3 - Bring extra pencils and pens

I make it a habit to bring two pens, two pencils, and an eraser for each test I take. Doing this avoids the possibility of me having to stop writing an answer and talk to the professor to get a new writing utensil. I would hate being interrupted this way, because it disrupts my focus and I could possibly forget what I was writing before.

#4 - Have a positive mindset

I believe that if you go into a test thinking that it will go badly, you will have already given up and will not try as hard. Having a positive mindset can influence how hard you try during the test and can make you focus better!

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