There are several ways that A-students study for exams. Here are some tips that students use with success to make the most of study time.
Exams sneak up on you when you are least prepared—if an exam can be scheduled
for the week when you have to work extra shifts, the week when your cat has
kittens, and the week your water pipes decide to burst and your landlord is out
of town, that’s exactly when they will happen. No joke, exams are the most
stressful time of the year for most students, and anyone who is in school looks
forward to those little blue exam books with dread.
There’s no reason to panic, though. Students who do well know that exams are
not a cruel trick to bring down marks—they can actually be a great last-minute
way to bring your GPA up. Start thinking of exam period as a way to bolster your
marks rather than as a time to sink, and you’re already halfway there. Then,
simply use a few tips and tricks A-students use to get great marks—with a little
less stress.
What’s Your Story?
It’s easy to get caught up in everyone else’s panic,
but you have to step back as soon as the butterflies in your stomach start
flying and do a realistic assessment. Find out all you can. Where are your
exams? When are they? What subjects are covered? What exam type are you dealing
with (multiple choice? Short answer? Essay questions?) Many colleges keep old
exams on file and these may let you know what to expect. Talk to other students
who have taken the course before—every professor has a favorite exam topic and
favorite questions. Knowing what to expect helps you streamline your study time.
Time, Time — It Waits for No Student
Time is your biggest enemy—and your
biggest ally—when it comes to studying for exams. Take out a calendar and note
exactly how much time you have between now and exams. List any other
responsibilities you have in that period of time. Now take a red pen and
ruthlessly cut out every item on your agenda that you absolutely don’t need.
From now until exams, tape all your tv shows, vow to rent movies later, and
generally eke out as much study time as you can. Every hour you can study inches
you closer to an A.