Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Expert tips to prepare for exams

Final exam time can often be stressful and nerve wracking. While some stress can actually be a positive motivator, being too nervous or tense can be problematic, especially if it interferes with your test taking performance. With less than two weeks left in the semester, it’s time to focus on what you can do to get yourself through this demanding time.
Here’s some advice to help make the end-of-the-semester experience less stressful. These tips are offered by Dolores Cimini, PhD, director of Middle Earth, UAlbany’s Peer Counseling service.

Deal with your anxiety:
Try to determine the source of your test anxiety. If it stems from a lack of preparation on your part, your anxiety is considered a rational response. However, if you believe that you are prepared for the test, but are still panicking or overreacting, this may be an irrational response. Either way, it can be very helpful to know how to work with their effects.

Prepare for those tests and assignments:
This is the best way to minimize anxiety. Here are a few tips for preparing for an exam:

• Avoid cramming for a test. Cramming can produce high levels of anxiety and is not helpful in trying to learn a large amount of material.

• Instead of trying to memorize all of the intricate details from an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings, try combining everything and learning the larger, main concepts first.

• When studying, try to create questions that could possibly be asked on the test. Try integrating ideas from lectures, notes, books and other readings.

• If it is impossible for you to cover all of the material for the test, choose one portion that you know you will be able to cover and present well.

Change your attitude:
It can help to change the way you think about taking tests. A test will not predict your future success or determine your self worth. Changing your attitude can actually help you enjoy studying and learning. Here are some ways you can work on changing your attitude:

• Remind yourself that it is only a test and there will be others.

• Reward yourself when the test is over.

• Think of yourself in a positive way. Think of all the hard work you have done already or think of what you do know.

• Plan ways to improve next semester

Don’t forget the basics:
Don’t forget about yourself and what you need. This means thinking of yourself as a total person, not just as a test taker.

• Maintain proper nutrition and exercise, and continue some of your social or recreational activities. It is ok to take a break once in a while.

• Make sure you get plenty of sleep. You can’t function at your best if you are tired.

• Do something relaxing when you feel adequately prepared.

Again, try to do something relaxing before the test. Cramming minutes before can produce anxiety. Get to the test early. This way, you can pick out your seat away from anxiety-ridden classmates and other distractions. Now, you’re ready to take the test…Good luck!

How to prepare for exams

The most important thing any student can do to prepare for exam is to start early. The days of studying for an exam on the bus going to school are over. Even if you got A's this way, it's not going to work very often with college material. College courses require far more effort.
Start preparing for the next test the day after you take the prior one. Daily preparation is crucial. At a minimum, review material once every week between exams.
How much time is needed? The classic question. Some recommend 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour of class time. In some cases homework problems will require this much effort. For a straightforward lecture course try the following:
Every day before class, preview the material for 15-20 minutes.
Attend every lecture. Seems simple but it's the biggest misteak students make.
Take good notes. Learn how.
Spend another 20-30 minutes after class going over the notes.
Use this time to get any confusing points cleared up in your head; much better now than later. This will make later exam prep. MUCH easier.
Once a week, review the material to get a more complete overview of the information.
Preparing to take an exam:
If you've been keeping up on everything on a daily and weekly basis you're in good shape when it comes time to get serious about preparing for an exam.
The first thing you need is a plan. You need to answer some questions:
What is my schedule like during the week of the exam?
Do I have other exams or papers due?
Will I have all week to prepare or will I have to study over the weekend?
How many pages of notes are there?
How many chapters do I have to read?

All of these questions will help you answer one basic one: How much time will I need? The answer will depend on how much work you have done so far. It's a crucial question because the next step will be to come up with a plan.

Start with with the day one week before the exam. That's the first day to start studying in earnest. Literally plan out how many hours you will spend each day studying until the exam. Make a schedule and stick with it. Be sure to leave time for group study or review sessions. Also break up the material in to parts and cover a little each day. Consider these questions:
How much material will I cover each night?
How much time will I spend studying with a friend?
When are the review sessions?
Will the Prof. or TA be available to answer any questions that come up?

Once you have a game plan it's time to get to work. There is no one way to go about this. Remember is important to come up with a system that works for YOU. Here's a suggested plan of action:

Step 1

Get a blank piece of paper and outline the material you need to study. This helps develop a "big picture" overview of the material. Start with big topics and leave room for subtopics. Fill in the information as best as you can. Get another sheet of paper and start over if necessary. Once you see all the units of information in front of you it will be easier to organize your studying. This will help you with the next step.

Step 2

Break the material into smaller chunks and study each one. Only once you understand each one should you move on to the next. Do this part alone in your quiet study place. This is when you start to memorize the information you'll need later. Write down any questions that you may have.

Step 3

The next step is to work with someone else to clarify anything that's confusing. Work with others, go to review sessions, see a tutor, or work with the professor or a TA. At this point it's important to make sure that everything is clearly understood. This is crucial. If this step is skipped then you're left with trying to memorize hundreds of useless factoids. It will never mean anything to you later.

Step 4



Now it's time to put the information into your brain for retrieval. If you've been working all along you will already remember much of it. Make sure nothing is left out. Review the tips on memory. Many students focus on this step exclusively. It's called cramming. Just say no.
Some thoughts on cramming (or why cramming bites)

Step 5

This next step is not needed by everyone but it's useful if you are having trouble with the course. You've been studying for hours and hours but, do you really know anything? Try working with someone else who will ask you questions about the material. If you can answer and explain concepts without too much effort then you're in good shape. Usually this help to expose areas that require more attention and study.

Step 6

If the previous step went well then all you have left is to work on weak areas and a general overview the material. If you didn't do well explaining the material you'll need another round of steps 4 and 5. Hopefully you left time for this in your study schedule.

If you planned well and kept up with the work there should be little anxiety the night before an exam. If you started late or waited to get questions answered then you'll be busy the night before. This will add extra stress and you'll likely make stupid errors on the exam. At the very least you'll be more susceptible to getting sick which will worsen your situation.

The only thing that should be going through your mind the night before is a sense of confidence. It's ok to be a little afraid or anxious but not panicky.

Below are listed some other specific suggestions.

Other tips:
Flashcards - help to memorize facts NOT understanding
Groups - good to work through difficult material, quiz each other for understanding
Review sessions - only go to early ones, last minute reviews sometimes cause needless confusion
Tutors - get help early, waiting till the last minute only fosters aggravation and panic
Professors/TA's - same as above, don't email about material the night before, do it early

General Study Tips

General Study Tips



Find a quiet, well lit place to study. It seems obvious, but sometimes you have to hide from distractions. (i.e. friends in the dorm) Tell others you are working and ask them to leave you alone for awhile. You can meet later to relax and have fun.
Work at a desk or table. DO NOT lie down on a couch or bed to study. Take a break if you need it.
Find the best time of day to study. Some students are most awake in the morning, others think best late at night. Learn the most optimal time of day for you to concentrate and study.
Review the day's notes when classes are over. You'll deal with questions about class material when it's fresh. In this way you'll avoid the need to cram for tests.
Set up a study schedule that includes a few hours each day . Stick to it.
Bribe yourself. Promise yourself that you'll do something fun IF you study for a period of time. When you reach your goal go have a sundae, see a movie or go out with friends.
Take frequent short breaks if you need it. Studies show people can concentrate for about 30 minutes before they lose focus. When you get to the point where your mind starts to wander, get up and take a walk. Get a drink and come back.


Sometimes working with others can help you illustrate which material is understood and which isn't. If you can answer questions and explain concepts to others, odds are you know the information well. Otherwise you'll realize what need to study some more.
Be cautious about working with others. Sometimes certain members will actually provide a distracting force. Carefully choose with whom you will work.
Cycle between working alone and working with others. Work alone to master concepts and information. Work with others to test your true understanding.