Studying for a hard exam can be a pain because there’s so much material to cover, and you don’t even know where to start. But the secret is, the best way to study for hard exams isn’t necessarily to study harder; it is to make sure you aren’t missing any core concepts, no matter how easy they may seem at first glance.
Here are some unbelievable tips on how to study for a hard exam and learn everything you need to know before test day rolls around.
How to study for hard exam
- Tips #1 Plan out your study schedule
- Tips #2 Use Flash Cards
- Tips #3 Create Practice Tests
- Tips #4 Review Your Notes
- Tips #5 Study with friends
- Tips #6 Discuss with your teacher
- Tips #7 Take short study breaks
Tips #1 Plan out your study schedule
Plan out your schedule as early as possible—the earlier you do it, the more flexibility you have. Most students just start studying a week or two before an exam. This won’t cut it if you have a hard test coming up. Begin planning out your schedule to give yourself time to review your notes and prepare questions that will help you better retain information.
Tips #2 Use Flash Cards
If you want to win, you have to practice. Flashcards are one of the most efficient and effective ways to do so. Whether they’re digital or hard copies, flashcards can help you identify gaps in your knowledge and target them with additional studying.
But more than just storage tools, flashcards can help trigger your memory and embed facts and formulas into your mind. So that when it’s time for an exam, all you have to do is pull out those flashcards from weeks before and start seeing those answers fly across your brain as if you’ve been quizzing yourself on them day in and day out.
Tips #3 Create Practice Tests
Creating practice tests helps you learn exactly what areas you need to spend more time studying. It gives you an opportunity to try out various study methods and keeps your mind open about what you can do when it comes time for that big test. Reviewing past exams also creates an air of importance around your upcoming test date, giving you ample incentive to get into gear!
Tips #4 Review Your Notes
Did you know that cramming (studying at the last minute) is actually less effective than reviewing your notes before going into an exam? Cramming might seem like a good way to stay up-to-date with your studies, but in reality, it only provides short-term results. The problem with cramming is that once you forget or mix up your notes, then you have nothing left to study from.
In order to ensure successful results from your studying, try reviewing old material instead of trying to memorize everything in one night. It may take longer, but in the end, it will pay off when you ace your test.
Tips #5 Study with friends
Studies show that studying with friends not only makes it more fun but also helps you remember what you’ve studied. Why? Because if your friend asks you something, they are giving you an opportunity to process what it is that you’ve learned. Remembering things is easier when they are meaningful or contextualized in some way.
Tips #6 Discuss with your teacher
Teachers are people who have been in your shoes before. They have probably seen students fail or succeed based on their methods of studying. When you’re stuck, reach out to your teacher and discuss different ways of studying for your hard exam.
The information they provide will be invaluable in helping you get through your challenging time. They could also point you in the direction of helpful resources that are available at school or online.
Another option is talking with fellow students who are currently working through similar courses; if anyone knows how to tackle exams, it should be someone who’s facing them right now! By asking questions and discussing techniques, you can learn something new about an old problem.
Tips #7 Take short study breaks
Taking a break is very important when studying. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself, so take frequent breaks and try not to spend more than thirty minutes on any one subject. A ten-minute break every hour works best. And do something unrelated! The best way to refresh your mind is by doing something that has nothing to do with what you’re studying—go outside, read a magazine, call a friend—anything as long as it doesn’t involve your studies. Once you come back from your break, you should be refreshed and ready to go again!
Wrapping up
Exams aren’t easy, but if you work hard and prepare, you can do well. It’s not rocket science: There are no secret tricks or shortcuts that will get you an A+ in every class. You need to put in hours of study time and practise your skills until they become second nature. Good luck!