Make Exam Preparation A Breeze with These Tips
Are you feeling nervous about your upcoming high school exam? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Millions of students around the world feel the same way before big tests. But don’t let your nerves get the best of you – there are plenty of things you can do to prepare for and ace your exam.
This blog post will outline some tips that will help make sure you’re ready to tackle the test head-on. So read on, and get ready to rock your next exam!
Make a Study Schedule
You might have heard this before, but it’s so important that we had to mention it again. If you don’t schedule time for studying, then when are you going to study?
Seriously – without setting aside specific times for reviewing class notes and concepts with your instructor’s help, chances are good that you’ll feel like you never study and never improve.
Don’t let this be you! So, make a schedule and stick to it. A great way to do this is by using Google Calendar or any other online calendar.
Get Organized
Studying isn’t as effective when you’re surrounded by clutter and chaos, so make things easier on yourself by getting organized!
First up: get rid of those piles of paper notes that are stashed all over your room – what good are they if you can’t find anything? Instead, scan or photo-copy everything, so it’s readily available on your computer.
Then dump out the contents of all of your notebooks onto the floor or table and go through each page.
Highlight anything you think you’ll need to review (some people like using colored markers, some prefer pens) and then neatly put everything back in the notebooks.
Exercise
The other strategy for exam preparation is getting your heart pumping and blood flowing with some exercise. If you get up from the desk during studying, do some push-ups or squats.
It’ll help keep your energy up while allowing you to focus on what needs to be done.
Make Use of Online Resources and Practice Exams
We know that studying for an exam on the same topic you’re learning about in your high school course is challenging. That’s why we’re huge fans of using online resources, practice exams, and past papers to help make studying easier.
Not only are these great tools helpful when you don’t understand something or need extra practice, but they can also serve as a great reference point when you feel like everything is starting to get confusing.
Review Your Notes
Reviewing your class notes right after the instructor has taught the material is one of the best things that you can do. Why? Because your brain is fresh with the most recently learned information and you’re more likely to remember it.
When reviewing, take a few minutes to go back and forth between your notes and your instructor’s textbook.
If you don’t have the book or access to someone who does, try looking online for videos that summarize the concepts or go to High School of America and watch their videos on the topic.
Read Your Textbook
When you don’t understand something and your instructor isn’t available for office hours, it’s helpful to read the textbook material on your own.
You may need a tutor or other student to explain concepts for you, but reading is still very beneficial.
Remember: textbooks are written by knowledgeable people (your instructors) to help students like yourself understand tough topics!
So read them whenever possible – it will be beneficial when test day comes around.
Take Lots of Practice Exams
Taking practice exams is one of the best things you can do during exam prep time. It’s a great way to see how much (or how little) you know and identify areas where you need to study more.
Know Your Studying Patterns
Everyone is different, so you need to determine what works best for your study habits. Some people are early birds, while others are night owls.
Some like studying in large groups and others prefer it alone. The trick is to find the right balance of activities and times (i.e., if you’re an early bird, don’t start your studying too late, or you’ll be exhausted).
Don’t Cram
If you’re like most high school students, then your exams probably cover topics that were taught weeks or even months ago (if not more).
If that’s the case, don’t try cramming everything into your brain in one night – it won’t work and will probably stress you out unnecessarily if you fail to remember what you studied hours later.
Instead of “cramming,” use this time to get back up-to-date by reviewing class notes,
Study With Friends
Studying with a friend can be really helpful in different ways: it’s less lonely than studying by yourself, the study session is more fun, and if your friend doesn’t understand something, then they may explain it to you.
This method is especially great for math courses where students might get stuck on the same problems and could work together to find solutions. Also, talking about challenging concepts out loud can help clarify them in your own mind!
Educate Yourself About Test Day
You probably already know that test day is crucial – after all, it’s the reason why you’re studying! When you actually take a high school final exam, it can be quite different from the “final” in class.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- It’s impossible to go into too much detail when studying for an exam – so don’t skip any chapters or topics just because they didn’t come up in your class! Remember: everything may show up on the final exam!
- In math classes, make sure to review all of the formulas and concepts that will be covered on the exam.
- Keep in mind that you will have a limited amount of time to finish your test – usually 2 or 3 hours. Make sure that you budget your time accordingly!
Handle Test Day Nerves
Test day can be a nervous time for students because it’s a big deal – grades from these tests impact your future!
If you find yourself feeling anxious about taking your final exams, remember this: there is very little chance that you’ll see any of the questions on the test!
Don’t Waste Time Wondering If You’re Ready
We know it’s hard not to worry about if you’re truly prepared for your upcoming exam, but try not to spend too much time doing this!
Many students waste precious study time “re-teaching” themselves everything that they have already learned. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you feel that your instructor hasn’t been helpful, then talk with him or her about it! You may also want to make an appointment with a tutor or academic counselor. There may be something else going on (i.e., anxiety), and these people can help you make some positive changes before finals week comes around again.
- Every time you review and practice for a test takes away from precious study time on that day – so don’t spend hours “re-teaching” yourself material that was taught to you the first time by the instructor!
Eat Healthy to Boost Your Brainpower
Nutrition is important during exam time! Skipping meals, over-indulging in junk food, and drinking lots of coffee or energy drinks can all take their toll on your body – which is bad news when you’re trying to stay sharp for an important test!
Be Confident in Yourself
Your self-confidence will play a huge role in how well you do on your exams, especially if you’re already unsure about how well prepared you are. So positive thinking!
It’s not as difficult as you think – just remind yourself of all those hours spent studying by breaking down what topics are covered on the exam, which concepts are most likely tested, etc. This way, when test time rolls around, you can focus on the task at hand and know that you’re ready to rock!
Take a Deep Breath Before You Start Taking Your Test
This step will help you relax – and then you’ll be ready to rock that test! Above all else, remember to stay positive throughout this stressful part of your high school career.
If you follow our advice, there’s no reason you shouldn’t ace your finals! We wish you luck with your upcoming exams!
You aren’t alone in feeling nervous about taking tests at school – everybody gets anxious before a big test! We have some ideas for you to try to help keep those nerves at bay.
Final Thought!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed about the upcoming exams, don’t worry – you’re not alone. But with a little preparation and some of the tips we’ve outlined in this blog post, you can breeze through the exam period and get that diploma!
Contact High School of America today to learn more about our college prep programs and how we can help you achieve your academic goals.