Prep, Study, Repeat

By: Kalindi Mishra

Final examinations and enormous semester-end papers are among the most difficult parts of college. 

Keep yourself coordinated and organized as you head into exam season. Go to all classes and take notes in the most structured way possible. 

Have the material ready for deeper comprehension when reviewing them later. How can you write notes that will be effective and improve your exam results? 

Refer to your previous lecture notes before attending the next class, and write legible notes. Organizing your notes in binders is a smart move, since you can add extra papers with ease.

Use highlighters, pencils, pens to draw attention to headings and subheadings. Create a new page for each lecture. 

Include space for comments or additional notes. 

Write quickly but thoroughly. Select a note-taking method that you are comfortable with. 

If clarifications are needed, ask. When something is unclear, clarify and complete it then and there. 

If needed, compare notes with your friends. In case it is written on the board, include it in your notes. 

It very well could be on the test. 

One of the top review tips for students is to incorporate important problems, concepts, and definitions on paper or flashcards.

Additionally, flashcards let you test yourself without the assistance of others. 

One of the best methods for getting sorted out and surveying the course material is to computerize flashcards and study applications.

Certain individuals like the total quietness of a library setting, while others enjoy the ambiance of an occupied coffee shop.

Some prefer sitting at their work areas to study, others like a review spot outside in the sun. The best review climate for you is the one that feels productive, so evaluate different spots to see which works best. 

Spending an excessive amount of time on one subject can lead to a lack of focus. Alternate between topics at regular intervals or so to forestall learning exhaustion. 

Return to difficult subjects after taking frequent breaks between study sessions. 

As indicated by the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve guideline, we tend to forget 70% of what we have learned within a  24 hour window.

Going over new concepts every day after class will greatly enable retention-so  make time each evening for a speedy review. 

Divide chapters into segments and skim through the content once more for consolidation prior to proceeding to subsequent chapters. 

Compose notes by summing up the significant components of the reading so you can easily re-read them without rehashing whole sections. 

Bookmark challenging segments to return to later. Utilize a planner (physical or digital) to monitor due dates and times to avoid late submissions. 

Zero in on the key areas of your lecture notes by condensing the information and underlining the main points and ideas.

Not an aficionado of traditional notes? Attempt reformatting them into graphs, charts, mind maps, or blueprints to make visuals that can assist you with figuring out complex ideas. 

Allow your brain an opportunity to invigorate so you can engage with the coursework with energy and enthusiasm. 

According to Oxford Learning, every half-hour spent studying should be followed up with a 10-15 minute break afterwards.

As such, short review periods are more beneficial. Hence, make an effort to stand up, stretch your limbs, and inhale some fresh air  before returning to the books.

When you know the format, make a practice test based on what you think the test will cover. This will help you understand the material better, and guide what you should be studying.

During a study of 16 college students, their performances declined after being fed a high-fat, low-carb diet heavy on meat, eggs, cheese, and cream for five days.

In contrast, the students who ate a balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables, remained stable, according to Cameron Holloway, a senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford.

Your brain consumes glucose during study sessions, so you should take a five-minute break every hour to replenish that fuel. 

Eating a healthy snack breaks up your studying, and this can greatly improve your results (almonds, fruit, and yogurt are excellent choices).