Hello everyone! If you know me, you know that I am a huge procrastinator, as in I have a final on Tuesday and I start studying today (true story I have my Algebra I Regents actually on the 13th aaa). I do this a lot, which is not the greatest study method, but I still somehow do well. For all the procrastinators out there who encounter the same issues, I developed an efficient and simple three day study plan that'll accomplish everything you need to get done. Shall we?
- If you have a textbook for this particular subject, close read it. Close reading is basically where you read a passage multiple times to gain complete understanding.
Read the first time, highlight the second time, and annotate the third. - you can do this with the entire chapter or sections at a time.
- Go back and review your notes. That's what they're there for! And if you haven't made any (boo you) then make some right now. They're helpful.
A quick, and visual note taking strategy is using a mindmap, it'll help you fit and organize all of your information.
- If something requires memorization, a thing I tend to do is put the words on my wall and go over them repeatedly so that I keep looking at them.
Flashcards are extremely helpful, websites like Quizlet are efficient and on the go.
- If you don't have time for notes, create a review sheet with main topics and information that you KNOW you'll need to know.
This can contain definitions, names of people or events, and main events/topics.
- Do some worksheets or exercises that will help you practice your knowledge.
If it's a standardized test created by the state or country, you can probably find some from previous years online that you can use for practice.
- Review your notes and mindmap AGAIN. Push that knowledge into your brain to really make sure you know it all.
- If you don't know all the definitions of the things you need to memorize, DO THAT NOW. Tomorrow you'll need to go over them, so make sure you know them.
- Read your annotations of the textbook, these are summaries of what you need to know and can be extremely helpful.
- Read your notes out loud but record yourself. And then listen to it. This is such a useful strategy that actually works.
- Go over the nitty gritty. Every test has that one curveball that came up in one line of the textbook, so make sure you know it all.
- Read over your textbook one more time to make sure you didn't miss ANYTHING. Don't skip sections just because you think that you know it.
- Listen to your recordings again to really get it in your brain.
- If you have time, rewrite some of your notes. Try to do this without any noise in the background, focusing/writing is a deadly combination that is key for memorization.
- Do some more exercises, but try to put yourself in an exam setting. No distractions, everything off the desk and no resources. Just you.
I hope this helped a few people who are still going through their exams. I wish you luck, and I know you all will do great <3
Hopefully I will be back with regular posting as soon as exams are over which is close to the end of June :(
Thanks for reading,
Noor
