Get that A! 7 tips to study for your tests

MANILA, Philippines – Scattered books, messy hair and coffee galore! Exam season is once again in full swing.

To avoid making Hell Week more hellish than it has to be, here are a few tips to improve your study habits and bring you one step closer to achieving those As.

1. Find a comfortable space

Find places with no distractions and enough space for you to freely move around in.  Studying in your dorm room, for instance, may lead to distractions, such as the Internet, television, or your room mates. Make sure to find multiple places on- and off-campus that best fit your ideal studying space so you have options.

2. Always take notes and highlight important details

There may be crucial topics discussed in class that cannot be found in your textbook, so it is important to list these down. Once you get home, review all your notes and rewrite the ones that are unclear. Spend 30 minutes or so each evening going over the notes from each class. Writing notes and definitions more than once will also help the information stick.

3. Quiz yourself

Challenge yourself as much as you can. Write down your own set of exam questions as you go over your notes and readings. When you begin to feel like you’re ready for your instructor’s exam, take out your questions and see if you can answer them. If you can’t, you may need to step back a bit and boost your knowledge a little more.

4.  Never, ever cram

It’s always better to be prepared. Spend 30 to 45 minutes every day going through your required readings and notes in advance. Study regularly throughout the semester for as many classes as you can. Your study schedule should be extensive enough to allow you to go through multiple subjects, but concise enough that you’re covering each subject/topic as best you can. Avoid procrastinating and your work load will feel much more feasible.

5. Be active in class

Never be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand a specific topic. Professors are there to help you learn, and not just offer information. It may be quite difficult to understand a concept or theory; this is perfectly normal. There is no such thing as a stupid question as long as it pertains to the subject at hand. As Sir William Arthur Ward said: “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”

6. Interpret the lessons

Read over your notes and rewrite them in words that make it easier for you to understand. Get into the habit of explaining whatever you’re reading in your own words, so you can fully understand your study notes. Don’t just memorize terms and definitions; make sure you understand what you are learning.

Tip 7: Get enough sleep

Get a good night’s sleep. Pulling an all-nighter is always a bad idea. What you may gain from extra study time at night won’t compensate for the inability to concentrate from lack of sleep. Aim for 8 to 10 hours of deep sleep to feel truly refreshed and ready for anything in the morning.

Do you have your own ace study tips? Share them in the comments section! – Rappler.com

Katrina Tiu is a Rappler intern