Semester finals are here so you need to get some studying for it. Finals are usually stressful for students. Even though the student may know what they are doing they study hard just because they want the perfect grade. A lot of students doubt their abilities to remember things. So they study so much that they cram.
Cramming for tests should not be done. It is said that what we learn and store is quickly forgotten. The best way to learn is to study lightly like maybe 30-45 minutes a day, instead of trying to cram a large amount of information at once. You could do practice tests are rewrite your notes so that it stores in your mind. Usually when you read and rewrite stuff you remember it better. Just by doing regular homework helps you remember things for tests.
When you write the most important details on note cards and look over them, it helps also. Like for instance, if you were studying the novel Hamlet by William Shakespeare. You could do a note card for each act and scene to help you retain the information. You can also do a character analysis for each important character that would also help you.
There are many ways you can prepare for a test but cramming for a test is not a helpful way. It only causes a headache and it may even cause you to forget what you studied. Cramming is a thing you do as a last resort. Here are a list of tips that may help you pass a big test:
-Eat some food to give you energy to study, but try to avoid excess sugar which will make you hyper and will make it more difficult to study.
-An apple does a better job at keeping you focused and awake than caffeine.
-Find a well lit place with no distractions around to study but don't get too comfortable or you may fall a sleep.
-Keep a positive attitude, it is easier to study when you are relaxed than when you are stressed out.
-Since your time is limited you have to choose what you study, don't attempt to learn everything, focus on things that will get you the most points on the exam.
-Focus on the main ideas and learn key formulas, skip the details for now and only come back to them if you see that you have time after you have learned the key points.
-Write down the key ideas/formulas on a sheet of paper and keep on studying from that sheet, repetition is important.
-Highlight the important points in your notes, and text and focus on that.
-Read the chapter summaries (they usually do a good job at summarizing the important points), if there're no chapter summaries then skim through the text and write down key ideas.
-Study from past tests, review questions, homework & review sheets.
-Take at least one five minute break an hour so that you can gather your thoughts and let your brain relax.
-If time permits, try to get at least 3 hours of sleep (one sleep cycle) before the exam so that you don't fall asleep when taking your exam. Don't forget to set your alarm!
Tips taken from : http://www.testtakingtips.com/cramming/index.htm