Summer is approaching, and that means we are entering exam season again. That stage in which stress surfaces and in which uncertainty can undermine our morale.
And exam time can wear us out, especially if we have not planned the study well and if we have not worked hard enough during the year and we intend to do all of 3 months’ work in one weekend. In this situation, the workload can become too heavy, and it can become too challenging. It is best to plan your learning well and harness effective study habits
To avoid falling prey to anxiety and not learning anything, it is best to use the study time you have available well, which means follow good study habits that allow you to consolidate learning and prevent you from spending the last day before the exam trying to memorize the entire syllabus.
Luckily, the good thing about these study habits is based on their simplicity; They can be acquired and developed quickly. Below you can find a list of the best ones.
1. Get organized
Unfortunately, when you find an ideal place to study, sometimes you may not have on hand what you are going to use during studying.
The study area should have everything you need, so you won’t waste time looking for things you’re missing. Thus, the first step to achieve success in exams is to be well organized. And if from the beginning you have chaos and you do not know the tasks or the practices that you have done during the course until there are three days left until the exam, then it will be difficult for you to stay up to date
It is important that you have everything well organized and that you know what you are doing, because if not you may be looking for notes the same week as the exam. And that is not beneficial for you at all.
Organize your notes ; Although it may not seem like it, the time you spend on it will be more than compensated by the time you will save by not having to waste minutes searching for books or documents.
2. Have a study area
Studying in the cafeteria may seem like an excellent idea, but if what you want is to retain as much information as possible and be fully concentrated, it is better that you find a study place where there are no distractions, where you are 100% with the study, without interruptions. The ideal environment for studying should be: orderly, quiet, well lit, spacious and it should be comfortable
3. Avoid distractions
Also, avoid having distractions nearby, as they can distract you. It is important that during study time you limit yourself to studying because, for example, computers can be very useful for searching for information, but they can distract you if you have Facebook open.
On the other hand, you should also Avoid studying in a group until you have started to make progress on your own. This will mean that when you meet with other people, instead of distracting yourself by talking, you will be aware that you have unresolved doubts and dedicate your time to sharing knowledge related to the notes.
4. Plan the study
Good planning is a basic step for the study to be useful. To do this, you can use a document (or a piece of paper) to write down the topics you will study, the days allocated to each topic and the approximate time you will need for each section.
Obviously, planning can vary and there should always be room for change, but it is important that you visualize the study process and know what you are doing at all times. Don’t forget that you should know when you will have the exam, since this will allow you to plan all the subjects and you will know what the priority is.
So that, Make yourself a study calendar that details what you are going to do each day This way you can monitor your progress and adapt to the time you have available.
To prevent problems, reserve a few “points” in advance, each of which you will spend each time you allow a certain number of hours to pass without having studied. This will prevent you from breaking your schedule at the first opportunity and forgetting about it.
5. Be consistent and distribute learning over time
Planning is very good, but you need to be constant and distribute the learning over time. This is key to avoid having to retain everything in the last few days and not actually learn anything or consolidate this learning, but only memorize.
Studying hard in the last few days before the exam may help you pass, but the information will not last long in memory That is, this is a good option if what you want is to really learn.
6. Do several tests
Take tests or mock exams Not only does it prepare you to know what types of questions may appear on the exam, but it can also give you very valuable feedback regarding whether or not you master the syllabus you are studying. Research published in Psychological Science in the Public Interest found that this is the most effective study technique.
7. Study without hunger
Physiological needs cause our concentration to decrease and, therefore, it is interesting to cover them to continue performing in the study. For example, if you need to go to the service, your ability to concentrate will decrease Without a doubt, a need that must be covered is nutrition, since it is necessary to have high energy levels to be able to study effectively. This is one of the study habits that often goes unnoticed.
8. Take a supplement
There are supplements that can help you improve your study ability. For example, Royal Jelly. Royal jelly, which is the food that bees are fed at birth and the queen bee throughout their lives, has a great vitalizing capacity for both the body and the mind. Another supplement that can help you perform better during studying is gingko biloba Of course, avoid energy drinks, as they are not good for your health.
9. Take breaks
Studying for hours can be exhausting, and after a period of time without breaks our brain can become fatigued, which is why the ideal is to take breaks as you study. It is advisable to take at least 10 minutes of rest for every 50 minutes of study. After the break, you will see how you are again ready to continue learning
Varying tasks can promote learning. For example, you can do 30 minutes of theoretical study and then another 20 minutes of practical tasks. Then use 10 minutes to check what you had previously memorized and take a 10-minute break to avoid mental fatigue.
11. Change the place of study
As I said, it’s good to have a place to study, a place where you can be focused and without distractions; However, you can also change locations at times to promote learning retention. For example, if you normally study in a room in your house, you could go to the library one day a week. This will positively influence your study, because it will act as a way to take a break and do not fall into monotony which can demotivate you.
12. Disconnect the day before the exam
Although we believe that studying the day before the exam for long hours is the best option, if you study in advance, scientific research affirms that it is better to disconnect the day before taking the exam. That doesn’t mean that you can’t do a review to keep everything fresh, but instead of studying all day, It is better to relax and not get saturated For example, you can go to the movies the night before.
13. Study begins in class
If you want to get the most out of studying, it’s good May you go to class with the best attitude This includes attending and taking quality notes, but also paying attention to the teacher. It is easier to retain some concepts this way, and you can also ask your questions at that moment. Otherwise, you may be asking all your classmates what you don’t understand just a few days before the exam, which may even confuse you.
14. Pass the notes
A good way to retain more information is to come home and take notes. This will help you refresh what you have studied in class, and it will help you memorize the new things you have learned much better. It will also help you organize yourself better so you can study more efficiently.
