Study Tips for Exam Success
Feb 2, 2007
If your High School is on the semester system then most likely you have just finished, or are soon to be finished your final exams.
I can remember cramming on my back porch for my Grade 10 Biology finals. (This is going back a while now; Quite a while.) I remember that I spent the better part of an entire day reading over every note, scribble, and comment that I had ever made. This particular cram-a-thon stands out in my memory, not because of what I studied, or how well I did on the exam, but because of the spectacular sunburn that I got as I sat immobilized for hours on the back porch. In fact, by the weekend after the exam, I had totally forgotten every word that I so diligently crammed.
I know this because to this day, I don’t remember a single thing about grade 10 Biology; Nothing. Only the memory of the sunburn remains.
It seems to me now, looking back, that perhaps the technique of gorging myself on Biology was not the most effective study technique. In fact, I know now that it wasn’t.
But what could I have done differently with my study habits to make how I studied more effective?
Well, for starters, I should not have tried to study everything in one afternoon session. I’m guilty of procrastination. I admit it. By the time I entered university, I learned my lesson: Cramming Doesn’t Work. It just doesn’t.
Once I finally grasped this concept, I started to develop better study habits. Habits like reading over the notes that I took during the day, and paraphrasing the teacher's notes using my own words. When it came time for a midterm or a final, I’d look over my own notes and ask myself, “Do I know what this is about? Can I talk about this unit in my own words?” When I answered myself with “maybe,” or a “not really,” I would read the unit carefully, then cover up my notes and recite them back in my own words.
Why would you want to recite stuff back in your own words? The answer is simple. When you recite and paraphrase, it means that you understand. And, understanding is better than memorizing. When you memorize, you only remember the stuff that you just read for a short time. When you understand, it sticks.
Another great tip that I learned was giving myself plenty of time. You know when the teacher tells you that a test is coming up? That’s the day to start reviewing your notes. It seems simple enough, right? When you are told that a test is coming up, don’t wait until the last minute to start studying. It’s one of the most basic rules of effective studying: Give yourself plenty of time.
Now put these tips all together:
- Give yourself plenty of time
- Read over your notes every night
- Paraphrase the text book and the teacher’s notes
- Read something, cover it up, and recite it back until you know it.
- Don’t memorize it. Understand it.
There is also one other important tip. If you are unsure about a concept, or don’t understand something, make sure that you ask for extra help. Talk to the teacher. Get another student to help you. Just like the golden rule for studying, (give yourself plenty of time), don’t wait until the last minute to let your teacher know that you need help.
That’s it. These are the best tips to help you not only to study, but to study effectively.
If only I had figured this stuff out back in High School, I might have been able to tell you something about my Grade 10 Biology.
Comments(49)
Find this article online at: www.oxfordlearning.com/letstalk/2007/feb/2/study-tips-for-exam-success/
Elizabeth - May 9, 2007
The SAT can be so stressful. I have found that the "workshop" style reviews are not worth the money. Each student is different and therefore individual programs are worth it!
Zul Aiman - Jun 13, 2007
i;m still confusing. Everyday when i want to do homework, I always did during last minute. I would like answers as fast as could don;t let me wait until i;m in HEAVEN!!!!!
Boon Khen - Jun 13, 2007
i want to get 5a's for UPSR or my mom will bann me from playing maplestory
Nicky - Jul 28, 2007
Thank you. I think I already kind of knew these things, but I feel it is a good list I might use when school starts back up again.
Nordety Simbila - Sep 26, 2007
i real like this tip! and i will tell my friends about this
nikisya - Oct 21, 2007
this tip is really2 make my brain works!i will tell my friends about this!
Hmm - Dec 8, 2007
Im an A-level Psychology student at university, and thus have access to an online collection of peer mediated journals, documenting psychological experiments on, pretty much everything!! Whilst I appreciate what you're trying to do here is both selfless and useful, and I'm sure your tips will work, I do raise objection to the bold statement 'cramming doesn't work'. Despite popular opinion, proper scientific investigation (see Vacha, Gonzaga and McBride's: Cramming: A barrier to student success, a way to beat the system or an effective learning strategy? or : the effect of study strategies on the retention of college text material, by J.C. Crewe) The results of these studies both support cramming, though I'm aware its clearly best utilized when in addition to prolonged and well thought out revision.
Regards
sam - Jan 8, 2008
im soo unready for my science exam in two weeks. It makes me almost sick becuae i want to do super well on it. This is just so hard for me becuae i play sports all the time and i hace other night classes so im really worried on how i should study, because with my life i dont really have a lot of time :S
Joann - Jan 10, 2008
My exams are in 2 weeks and I've only started devising a study schedule now. Im in gr 12 and it's so stressful sometimes I wish I could contract a disease and skip the exams with a valid excuse - of course I don't and it's insane how my science marks are still okay for now. I think another good tip to do is what my friend does - fold a paper in 4 parts and read over one section of the note. Then, copy it out word for word on one section. Then, cover it up and what you just copied, and write down everything you know and understand. Do it twice to help you understand. Then, talk about what you know outloud. Go on to the next section do the same. Then, once you are finished, write out what you had studied in the previous section.
Alissa - Jan 16, 2008
After reading this i realized that i cram too much. I am now in high school and taking my mid-term exams, they are very stressing. I tell myself im gonna study like 3 days before the test but I always end up studying the night before. Maybe I should take in this advice?
ALEX - Jan 27, 2008
Thanx body it actually going to help me for my exam in 2 days..........
UPP - Feb 5, 2008
thanks this advice is great
Alisa - Feb 5, 2008
remembering everthing was hard but now i understand it is not memorising but understanding thankyou very much
akansha - Feb 27, 2008
thanks, it helped me a lot
incandescence - Mar 6, 2008
a real...class, act..??
adam - Mar 22, 2008
Thank you for give me a memorising
deputy dog - Mar 30, 2008
i smell the puppetry of socks!!!
Prickless Antique - Apr 10, 2008
yes, i thankyou also for giving me a memorising
Joe Jonas - Apr 14, 2008
Yeah, i totally agree.
Joe Jonas - Apr 15, 2008
same here, i also agree.
Joe Jonas - Apr 16, 2008
seconded
sameshni - Apr 17, 2008
oh well em sounds kwl den
Nabaa - Apr 25, 2008
helped me alot!thanx
Joe Jonas - Apr 26, 2008
God I just can't get enough of agreeing!!
Ron Burkes - Apr 26, 2008
Joe Jonas, this is a site designed to help people, selflessly created by the makers of this site, I'm sure they don't appreciate you spamming it.
You're childish, and frankly, a bit of an a@@ hole!!
Joe Jonas - Apr 26, 2008
I couldn't agree more
Joe Jonas - Apr 27, 2008
Will someone make a point please so i can agree with it...
jhodie - May 29, 2008
pls let me know more some tips during the exam.thx
Kels - Jun 17, 2008
I hope this works. It's my first year taking exams. Wish me luck!
srsrs rsrsrs - Jun 19, 2008
im just praying that my exams go well
Kels - Jun 24, 2008
Well I passed all my classes
Thank gosh
Good luck to everyone else that took exams
Kelsie
Kels - Jun 24, 2008
Joe do u have msn?
What is it
Kels - Aug 9, 2008
does anyone have msn?
akshay - Aug 12, 2008
it was very helpful to me hats off to you
Khoo Xue Ni Qifa Primary - Aug 18, 2008
This is helpful to me.Thanks!!!~
iylia liyana - Sep 1, 2008
this is very helpful
zukam - Sep 2, 2008
that is nice way to learning but one thing other i am a foreigner student English how i can improve my education with that now i am in one of those college whome whole study are on english so than what i should do if guid me that will be help in my education.
Joe - Sep 3, 2008
@Zukam - that's a tough one if you've already started college at an English school. The school should offer ESL (English as a Second Language). I would suggest taking that or at least looking into it.
Until your English reading speed is at fast enough, you may find it hard to keep up with college level reading requirements.
Good luck!
hilari - Sep 9, 2008
it was helpful for me,thank you
Joe Jonas - Sep 14, 2008
Hey kels, its always nice to meet a fan!!
My email address is
[removed]
[Admin - personal email address removed to preserve privacy and email address was not appropriate for this website (family friendly).]
Ron Burkes - Sep 14, 2008
Excuse me Kels, but what do you think you're doing, you're only going to boost this guys ego, which is clearly the last thing this guy needs!!
I cant beleive how idiotic some people are!
Babylyn - Sep 25, 2008
God is good cause He always there for me all the time.
Angel - Sep 25, 2008
Goodluck to us in taking board exam tis coming September 28, 2008. Hope all of us passing the exam to continue our career.
Baby - Sep 25, 2008
I always pray to God to pass our exam this coming sunday. God, pls. help cause I know you are the one who help me to pass the exam. I love you God.
Babylyn - Sep 25, 2008
thanks for those tips, it helps me a lot to passed the exam.
Kels - Oct 30, 2008
Excuse me Ron, but nobody asked for your opinion in the first place, let alone the second time.
If you cant say anything nice, dont say anything at all.
nilesh - Nov 9, 2008
my exam is 24 nov & i have to give examof 2 subject every day how can i study.
Leigh-Anne - Nov 16, 2008
Hey,
I'm writing my grade 9 CTA's on monday and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me in general. I start with english so yay. Oh, and just by the way, I live in South Africa.
Thanks a lot guys!
leiGH
lil Angle ;) - Jan 4, 2009
my exames are in the last week of jan im so scaredd wah if i dont do well? i need help on how to studyy any tips? i have all the hard courses this semester > family Studies, French, Geography and MATH!!!
i live in canda if yuh have any tips pleaseee hellp type up the tips here
thxx (F)
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