Tip #1: Get Colorful!
One of my best techniques whilst taking notes and preparing for tests is using COLOR! It seems so simple and ineffective but works so well (for me at least). Using color helps make the main points stand out to you and overall gives your notes a more welcoming feel and easier to understand/read. I love using colored Paper Mate pens which you can get from Target, Office Depot, etc and Stabilo Marker pens which you can find at Coop or Migros! Both are a great way to make your studying more enjoyable and easier to concentrate on. However, don't add too much color or it will serve as a distraction!
Tip #2: Stay Organized!
This is a really important one and I feel like if you are not organized going into exams or preparation it will be very hard to succeed. Organization saves time looking for papers and important notes and keeps your studying on track. I recommend having one place where you keep all of your handouts-either in a binder or folder. Then, at home have study tools such as extra supplies and a rack for keeping extra books, notes, etc. That way if you forget or lose something it will all be at home and in one place.
Tip #3: Take Breaks!
This tip has been proved to enhance your studying and overall benefit you in the time of assessments and tests. Working in longer intervals with short breaks in between keeps up concentration levels. This is because if you stare at a paper for 2 hours trying to memorize something probably only half of that will actually stick with you, because concentration is lost and the brain gets..tired! Instead try intensely memorizing for thirty minutes, taking a 10 minute break (preferably for food ;) and then repeating to maximize the quality of your studying.
Tip #4: Style of Studying
Know what style of a learner and studier you are and stick to what works best for you. If you find yourself always switching between methods or failing tests and not know why since you 'studied', then you need to discover the method that works best for you. In my case, creating study guides for each subject really benefits me. Just making a study guide enforces you to write down all the information again and allows you to look back and collect notes whilst making it. Then, I study from that guide since all the information is now in one place. Other methods can be:
- Highlighting key ideas
- Writing down notes
- Making flashcards
- 2 great online websites or apps for this are Quizlet and Study blue
- Reading information
- Working with a friend
- Working alone
Tip #5: Try explaining the content to someone
This tip is quite effective because it enforces you to fully understand the content in order to describe it to someone-especially if it is new to that person. It also helps if they then ask questions back to you about it causing you to once again think about the material in-depth and explain like a teacher would.
Tip #6: Don't Stress-it's just a test!
Overall, don't stress out too much! In the end it's one test or in the case of exams, several. Furthermore if you have been doing great all semester but mess up on this exam it won't do much damage. Especially, if your school doesn't count exams as too much of the overall grade on your report. So remember to study but don't freak yourself out so much that all of the preparation wasn't worth it because you panicked once the test came and bombed it!
Good Luck!
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