Studying for Tests

By Charlotte P

1. Take Notes and Review Them

More than half of your studying work is done in the classroom. Whether your teacher provides notes or not, take organized notes so you can review them later. These notes can be an outline, bubble map, t-chart, or any other organization structure, but keep them organized so you can review them later. Keep each subject’s notes separate, and make sure they are easy to read and review.

When you take notes, write down facts that your teacher emphasizes or writes on the board. Moreover, write in comprehensible short hand, and do not try to write every word of your teacher’s lecture or presentation. Practicing writing notes from your teachers’ lectures will prepare you for college lectures; learn to decide which facts are important and which aren’t.

At home, review your notes and perfect them. Add helpful diagrams and highlight important vocabulary words or key dates.

2. Plan Your Study Time

If you have several tests coming up on the same day, this is extremely important. Think about how much content will be covered on these tests and estimate how much time you need to devote to each test. A vocab test may need less studying time than a biology unit test or a U.S history test on the Civil War.

Consider “chunking” — breaking down large topics into smaller chunks — your test topics. Study each chunk each day before the test. Remember to review all that you have studied after each study session, however. If you have more than one test to study for, study for all of them a little each day.

Keep in mind that your mind will need a break when you study. Since most people can concentrate well for about 45 minutes, so give yourself some rest every 45 minutes.

3. Know the Type of Test You Will Take

Will your test contain multiple-choice? Math grid-ins? Free response? Essays? If you are not sure, ask your teacher for a breakdown of the test. For multiple-choice questions, focus on facts, such as dates or vocabulary words, as well as the basic applications of the facts. Find practice questions online and keep drilling. Math grid-ins are usually harder math problems; review the harder math problems from the content, and do some practice questions.

Free response and essay questions require a more thorough knowledge of important topics. Look at the sections of the notes that your teacher emphasized the most and has the most details. Your teacher probably gave clues as to what the free response or essay questions would be for the test. Also search for essay and free response questions and at least contemplate how you would answer those questions if they appeared on a test.

4. Do Not Procrastinate

This is easier said than done. It is tempting to put off studying till the last minute. The best way to battle procrastination is to stay organized. Write down the due dates of assignments and the dates of tests and quizzes. Plan out study sessions and homework sessions beforehand in order to not procrastinate and follow a schedule.

Also give yourself incentives for doing your work early or following your schedule, such as leaving time to hang out with friends, party, or watch a movie.

5. Start a Study Group

The positive aspect of a study group is that members can hold each other accountable for fulfilling their roles in the group and studying adequately for a test. The negative aspect is that friends can provide distraction instead of support. However, if you need others to push you to study, consider forming a study group.

Carefully choose the members of the study group as well as the location to meet. The members of your group should be familiar friends, but also known to be responsible and mindful of their academic performance. The location should be a place that encourages quiet study and not playful conversation, such as a library or a café.

Rewards of Studying

Despite feeling deprived of energy and social time, studying will raise your confidence for the test. Moreover, taking the full effort to study will have you perform your best on test day.