4. Carry cue cards with some basic concepts written down on them. While you
are stuck in traffic or waiting for the dentist, review these cards.
5. Some professors have their lectures taped. Some students tape lectures
instead of taking notes. If you can get your hands on these tapes, you can often
listen during little snatches of time and refresh your memory of what was
covered in class.
6. Smart students know that sometimes just getting the same concepts
explained differently helps. If you can get taped lectures about the subjects
covered on your exams—some college libraries have audio sections that include
lectures from visiting professors—or if you can read articles or book about the
subject other than just the required reading, you are well ahead of the game.
Look for books on the subjects or arrange to exchange lecture tapes with someone
taking a similar class at a nearby college. Reading more may seem like a
stressful idea at this time of year, but reading an interesting article instead
of a dry chapter in a textbook often gets you closer to that A.
7. Study groups are the downfall of many students—who hasn’t had a study
session that turned into a gossip-fest or an impromptu game of basketball? Stay
away from study groups. Instead, study alone unless you are studying with a paid
tutor or unless you want to squeeze in some more study time. For example, making
plans to go out to study with a group on Saturday afternoon is not a great idea,
but if you have to work on Saturday anyway and one of your workmates is in one
of your classes, you can bounce ideas as your work and sneak in some study time
that way.
No matter how much time you have to study, by getting realistic, by planning,
and then by buckling down so that you use all the time you do have to study, you
can improve your marks—or at least keep the ones you have. Exam time will likely
never be fun, but at least it doesn’t have to involve failure. A few simple
steps are all it takes to take you from no studying to smart studying—the type
of studying that will get you that A!