That goes for your desk and locker, too, no clutter – really any area you use for studying and being academic. If it’s intimidating to even dig through, you definitely won’t be sitting down to study. You’ll be spending all your time looking for some things!
Spend your free time with them – just watching each other study. Pick up on their better habits. If you have a class together, make time once a week or so to talk about the content – not about your teacher’s phlegm problem or that cute guy who sits in front of you. Sit with them in class, if you weren’t already! When your friends’ hands shoot up to answer questions, you’ll be less inclined to snooze away.
They can also tell you what the teacher is like and what you could expect. If you go in knowing their tendencies (and maybe even how to butter them up cough-cough) and how they operate, you’ll have that much of a leg up even before the first class.
At the very least, make a special spot in your house that’s devoted to serious studying. You don’t want to go to bed every night feeling like you should have been studying! Get a table, a desk, or some common couch that you use only for studying. It’ll help zone your brain once it makes the connection. Be habitual.
For breakfast before an exam, keep it light. And don’t drink so much coffee you get the jitters! Have some toast and an apple or whatever you might reasonably need. But do eat breakfast. It’s just harder to concentrate when you’re shaky from hunger!
The world will not come crashing down around you if you get an A-. Sure, it’ll stink, but lots of things are rough. You’ll still get into a good school. You’ll still get a job. You’ll still be worthy of love. You’re not struggling with cancer or poverty or being hunted down by the mafia. It is Okay!
And while you’re there, take good notes. [7] X Expert Source César de León, M. Ed. Educational Leadership Consultant Expert Interview. 11 November 2020. But you knew that right? Going to class, while also helping with knowing the content and what will be on the tests, will alert you to deadlines and test dates. Sometimes professors switch things up on a whim. If you go, you’ll know what to expect and when you have to show up.
You don’t have to break new philosophical ground with every comment you make. Even answering questions your teacher poses can get you in good. Some teachers have participation points or will round up your grade if they know you do. So do it!
You don’t have to ask about their kids or invite them out to lunch. No, no, no. Simply go up to them after class, ask them about a point they covered and go from there. You could also ask them for scholarly advice (potential jobs or schools, maybe?) and talk about yourself, too. You both need to get to know each other!
Even if you didn’t get a less-than-stellar grade, ask about extra credit. When you’re rocking a 105% class average, you can slack a little (but not too much) on the next test!
You still gotta ace it, you know. So go to it, try your hardest, but go home not having any homework, you know?
Ask your teacher for his/her powerpoints. Get on Memrise and make yourself some interactive flashcards. Go to Khan Academy to brush up on the Korean war. This ain’t the 50s and you don’t have to rummage through your library’s card catalogue anymore to find extra resources. They’re right at your fingertips.
If you’re in college, there are some students that have tutoring as part of their graduation requirements. They get credit, you get tutored. And it’s free! If you can find a pedagogy class, go for it. No stress on you or your wallet. Double win.
Also try studying at different times of day. You may find that you like studying more in the morning or at night. Everyone’s different!
You can break up a boatload of content into manageable pieces. Assign each member a chapter to become an expert on. Problem-solving and consensus reaching. Especially great for the sciences and math. Predicting test questions and testing each other. Making studying more interactive and fun (and thus memorable). Don’t turn your study sessions into a competition, though! Academic intelligence is an individual measurement that you shouldn’t compare to others. [14] X Expert Source César de León, M. Ed. Educational Leadership Consultant Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.
Seriously. Totally study the night before, yeah, but do not lose sleep or your mind over it. You’re better off getting a full seven or eight hours. You’ve been studying the whole time, and should know the topics, right?
How to Study More Effectively How to Study for a Test How to Have Fun While Studying How to Get Motivated to Study How to Focus on Studying How to Create a Study Schedule How to Get Good Grades
