Taking a test is a universally uncomfortable, stress-inducing experience, particularly when you don’t feel well prepared.
As the 2024/25 school year takes off, tests will undoubtedly come, if they have not already. Studying for these tests can feel like an unrewarding task, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If you feel that you never get the results you deserve, you could simply be studying poorly.
Below, I’ve curated a list of what I deem to be the 10 most valuable tips to study for a test.
Use Class Time Well
It’s important to remember that the process of studying for a test begins during class. For example, taking organized, thorough notes will likely help you later when studying for a test. Additionally, simply paying attention in class will go a long way. It’s generally easier to learn from your teacher in class than to attempt to teach yourself everything at home.
Note Taking
On the topic of taking notes, a key study method is reviewing past assignments, notes, homework, and papers. Remember that your teacher presumably taught you what they did for a reason. Be sure to review everything from the test’s unit, class, or topic – don’t disregard or assume that you won’t be tested on something.
Break Up Larger Topics
It’s easy to feel intimidated by big, vast topics. To feel more comfortable with these, it’s helpful to break them up into smaller subtopics. Do this by first writing down everything you need to know, followed by writing down the more focused subjects within the bigger ones.
Know What to Expect
Don’t walk into a test unprepared for the style of test you’ll be taking. If you don’t know, ask your teacher. By knowing this, you can cater your studying to the style of test you’ll be taking, preparing yourself for the test itself.
If the test you’re taking is multiple choice, be aware of any concepts or vocabulary you’ve confused in the past. Your teacher may be aware of this, and use it to trick you, or test how well you truly know the material.
If the test you’re taking will have written answers, it’s easy to waste your time erasing your work, trying to come up with quality, concise ideas. To avoid this, consider practicing writing answers down with a time limit to prepare for realistic testing conditions.
Memorization
If you often struggle to memorize information or concepts for a test, try creating acronyms, rhymes, stories, or songs related to the topic. These methods give you something catchy and memorable that can help to later spark your memory. According to AHS psychology teacher, Sarah Ward, your short-term memory can only hold 7 +/- units of information at any given time. By condensing a large topic into, for example, an acronym, it allows you to hold more information, as you’ve reduced the number of units to remember.
Many people enjoy chewing gum while studying, but they might not realize that it can have notable benefits to your memorization. According to State Dependent Memory, if a person consumes information in a specific mental or physical state, they will later retrieve the information the easiest if they are in the same state. This means that if you chew gum while studying for a test and then chew gum while taking the test, it could help you remember what you memorized when studying.
Flashcards
Making flashcards is a classic study method – and for a reason! Flipping through these cards and potentially saying the answer out loud requires repetition and true engagement of the brain.
While Quizlet or other online flashcard techniques are efficient as well as portable, there are noteworthy benefits to handwriting in relation to memorization. In simple terms, physically writing requires more of the brain to activate than typing on a keyboard does. So, the next time you decide to make flashcards, consider closing your Quizlet tab and pulling out the old-school notecards to better your study process. It is also helpful to review the cards you don’t know, rather than continuing to review what you do know. Once you feel that you’ve mastered a certain card, take it out of the pile. This ensures that you understand everything, and don’t create a false sense of what you know.
Be the Expert
Another way to commit something to memory is by teaching it to somebody else. Not only does this force you to review and think about the topic, it ensures that you’re able to articulate it, and that you truly understand it. Additionally, if the person you’re teaching it to asks you questions, it may force you to think deeply into ideas you hadn’t considered yet. If you don’t have a friend or family member to teach the topic to, simply talk to yourself. Although this may sound foolish, it is important to be actively engaged when studying. A lot can happen in the subconscious, which is an example of your brain not processing information adequately. By talking and explaining information out loud, you’re activating your brain effectively, and properly engaging your brain – which ultimately forces you to think deeper and truly understand the information.
Don’t Procrastinate
Don’t procrastinate and leave your studying to the night before, even if you think you study well under pressure. You will psychologically retain information more effectively by spreading your studying out over the course of multiple days or even weeks. Encoding information into long-term memory takes repetition, meaning that cramming studying into one night is ineffective, as the brain won’t have enough time to perfectly encode the information. Because the short-term memory has a restricted capacity of what it can remember at one moment, committing information to the long-term memory allows you to remember as much information as needed. Memory is highly dependent on repetition. The more something is done, the more it is understood and remembered.
Reducing Stress
A productive study-session will be impossible to accomplish if you’re not in the right state of mind. If you’re feeling distracted or preoccupied, you can help to center yourself by trying breathing exercises. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, consider getting some fresh air by taking a walk or simply sitting outside for a few minutes.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
In order to be in the right state of mind, it’s vital to eliminate any distractions. You can do this by distancing yourself from the source of your absentmindedness. If you continuously catch yourself listening in on a nearby conversation, find an empty space where you’re far from other people. If you notice that you keep looking out the window, move away so that you’re nowhere near the window.
Another way to help focus is by listening to music. Studies show that listening to music while studying helps to improve focus and concentration, calm the mind, and even improve the overall achievements in high-pressure environments. The best genres for studying, research shows, include classical music and nature sounds. Classical music helps to strengthen the brain’s neural networks, as well as lower blood pressure and trigger concentration. Ambient nature sounds, such as rain noises, creates a calm, relaxed backdrop for your rigorous learning.
Though finding the motivation to study for an upcoming test can be insufferable, the results tend to pay off. By thinking, “I already know I’m going to fail, so there’s no point in studying”, you set yourself up for failure. Studying properly will only ever increase your chances of success, and it often improves your ultimate results.
