How to Study for Tests » The Unclouded Path

You have a big test coming up, but it’s not a problem. Just cram the night before, and you’ll be fine, right? Well that may work for some people, but it’s far from the best way to study for tests. There are plenty of other methods that will not only help you remember the information, but also reduce the amount of stress involved with studying.

Does Cramming Work?

Some people swear by it, but cramming is actually a pretty unreliable way to study for tests. The main reason is that memory simply doesn’t work that way. You need sleep, especially deep sleep, to solidify memories. And if you stay up cramming, you’re not going to get much sleep, if any. So you might find out the next day that you’ve forgotten most of what you studied. Not only that, you’ll probably be drowsy from lack of sleep, so you can’t think straight.

Another reason is that you may come across material that you have difficulty understanding. You’ll need lots of practice to iron out these problems. Cramming is only good for rote learning (learning through repetition), and it’s not even all that great for it either. It’s no good for things that involve complex thinking, which is what many test questions are like (especially in college). Being in a state of stress in the middle of the night doesn’t help with learning anything complicated either.

Lastly, there’s only so much time in one night. So if you need more time to practice something or to simply go through all the material, you’re out of luck.

Tips for Studying Effectively

The next time you have a test coming up, try some of these tips instead:

Plan out your studying. Your teacher will probably tell you what the test is going to be on in advance. So make a plan for studying those subjects in depth. Be sure to give each subject enough time just in case you hit a snag. Also pay attention to any hints that your teacher gives regarding specific subjects that might be on the test. For example, if the teacher focuses a lot on a particular problem (or outright says “This will be on the test”), pay extra attention to it and make sure you’ve totally mastered it by the time you finish studying.
Attend class. Teachers go through steps to solve problems in class that you might not find from the textbook. Also, if you don’t attend class, you’re going to be missing out on those aforementioned hints. Class is also a good time to ask any questions you might have about the material.
Short, intense studying sessions are better than long, drawn-out ones. Keeping your study sessions short (about 30-45 minutes) and focused is a more efficient use of your time because you’re less likely to be distracted.
Space out your studying. Studying material repeatedly over a few days instead of cramming it all at once has been shown to increase the chance that you’ll remember it. It’s also a good idea in general because if you find out that you don’t understand something, you’ll have time to ask your teacher or friends about it. In the end, you’ll learn the material more deeply and remember it better.
Split up the material. Think studying about the history of an entire nation seems too daunting? Splitting up large subjects into smaller sections can help you tackle it easier. As mentioned before, splitting a huge studying session into smaller sessions will help you learn better, too.
Approach the material in different ways. Don’t just re-read your notes and call it a day. For example, make flashcards and practice with them. You could also re-summarize some of the material in your own words or create your own practice test. Whatever you decide to do, the point is that your brain learns best while “actively engaging” with the material. In other words, you need to make your own meaningful connections to the material. Without it, your brain treats it much like the random stuff you read every day (easily forgettable).
Practice problems can help. Doing more problems for subjects like math can help you understand the material better. It gives you a chance to use the formulas and concepts in ways that you might not have encountered before. That way you’re less likely to get messed up by a curveball question on a test. Many math and physics textbooks have answers for selected problems at the back of the book. If you’re having trouble with some concepts, try a few of those problems and check your answers to see if you’re doing them right. If not, ask your teacher or friends for help.
Study with friends. When you’re with friends, you’re exposed to different perspectives on the material, and you’re also forced to explain your understanding of it. Then you can all iron out any errors you may have. This whole process makes you learn it more deeply. After all, in order to explain something to someone else, you need to understand it well first. It’s an especially effective form of active engagement. Plus, it can be more fun than studying alone.
Don’t try to multitask. Multitasking doesn’t improve your efficiency and can actually be detrimental. So cut out all distractions like videos, games, and social media. Leave those for break time.
Study in an environment that you like. Like listening to music when you study? Go for it. Don’t like the library because it’s too quiet? Try studying outside. Whatever your preferences, the important thing is that you’re comfortable and focused in the environment you choose.

Tips for Test Day

You’ve prepared, and now it’s time to take the test. Here are some tips for staying in top form for test day:

Get some good sleep the night before. Sleep helps solidify memories. Not only that, you don’t want to be drowsy when you take the test. You’ll need a clear mind to tackle complicated problems.
Before the test, prepare yourself mentally for it. This could be something as simple as eating your favorite snack or listening to your favorite music. The point is to put yourself in a positive mood and reduce stress. That way you’ll be more focused during the test.
Eat something before the test that won’t make you crash. You’re brain needs energy to work so being hungry won’t help you. You also don’t want to crash in the middle of a test either so pick something with complex nutrients like a banana or a granola bar.
If you need to travel to the test center, make sure to get there early. Many of these kinds of tests require some form of registration before you can start. Feeling rushed before you even start the test will just add to your stress. Some test centers may not even let you in if you’re too late.
Pace yourself during the test. If you’re struggling with a part of the test, skip it and try working on the other parts first. Then return to it when you have time. You don’t want to waste a lot of time working on a problem and then find out that you don’t have enough time to finish the rest of the test.

Good luck!