Summer vacation is so close that you can almost taste freedom. But before you throw away all of your textbooks and slap on the sunscreen, you have to write your final exams. Stressed out and overwhelmed? Here are some studying tips to help you successfully get though your last days of class.
Study Tips:
1. Location - Choose your studying location wisely. Stay away from rooms that present distractions, such as a room that has your computer in it. Cell phones, televisions and other electronics should be in another room, so distractions such as incoming texts cannot take your attention away from studying. Choose a quiet room away from any noise sources.
2. Plan - Organize your material that you must study into smaller topics. Focusing on one small topic at a time presents a less overwhelming load. Make sure to take breaks where you can rest your brain. For example: after forty-five minutes of studying, go outside and take a ten minute walk. This way, your brain gets a break and you are more focused on the school material when you return.
3. Speak Up - Use moratorium to your advantage and ask your teacher about any topics and concepts that you are unsure about. Believe or not, teachers actually want you to succeed in your course. If you aren't comfortable asking the teacher, ask another student who is trustworthy to help you understand.
4. Review - Review old tests and assignments. Often, questions found on tests and assignment in the course will be found on the final exam. Look over any mistakes or questions that you got wrong, and find the correct answer.
5. Tricks - Choose a method of studying. Some like to make study notes with the main concepts outlined or make flashcards. Ask a peer to quiz you during your free time. For those who are drawn to colour, highlight important information. Acronyms are often helpful to remember long, hard-to-remember facts.
6. Lead a Healthy Lifestyle - Eating a proper, balanced diet that follows the Canadian Nutrition Guide will help you focus on your material. Stressing about an exam only distracts you from your studying. If you feel stressed, take a break and choose an activity to do that makes you happy and can take your mind off of the worry. Getting enough sleep, around 8-9.5 hours a night, is key to success. Being sleep deficient negatively affects your short-term memory, how aware and responsive you are and how consistent you can act. These are all important components that are applied during exams.
