Tips on Studying For
Exams
"The Five
P's"
Proper
Planning
PreventsPoor
Performance
From experience many
years ago as a college student, I still remember the trauma
and uncertainty that preceded exams. I know firsthand how
difficult it is to feel adequately prepared to take an exam,
and I must admit, I too was not always successful. But I
never gave up, and over the years both as a student and now
as a professor, I have gained respect for proper planning.
Follow the three principles or "tips" to help you to take
any exam (and prevent poor performance).
- Preparation
Principle.
Begin the review process at least seven days before the
exam. Unless you have a photographic memory, fewer days
of preparation are probably inadequate. The common
practice of late night cramming is only slightly better
for one's overall psyche and health than walking
blindfolded down the center lane of a highway! Although
many students still "cram" all night for exams, the end
result is usually the same "I could have done better if
only I had more tome to study!" With even a modicum of
planning, you can avoid that nighttime walk down the
highway, and you'll feel better too, especially when you
get your grade. To those who don't heed the advice, well
at least I tried.
- Concentration
Principle.
Intensity of effort yields a higher return, to use a
financial metaphor, than duration of effort. Translation:
It's not how many hours you devote to note taking,
underlining, or reviewing, but it's how much you
concentrate when you do study that really counts. Here's
a tip to help you concentrate. For text reading, instead
of underlining with a colored marker, read two or three
lines of text, and then cover up the section and repeat
out loud what you just read. Sounds easy? Try it! You'll
find that this simple task is very challenging. Don't
give up if at first you have trouble. Try again, and
again. Really concentrate on what you read, and then
verbalize it immediately. The verbalization is
crucial. For those able to concentrate, you should
have little problem reciting back the key elements or
important points.
If you have difficulty with this exercise, don't be
discouraged. Reading with concentration is not an easy
task. It is something that must be learned. And as in
learning any new skill, gratification does not come
immediately. If you're a golfer or tennis player, you
know what we mean (especially the golfers!).
Through experience, I have found that this
read-and-recite method can improve comprehension by as
much as 85% ! As you become more proficient, you'll be
able to recite more facts and concepts. And once you
truly have learned something, recalling and remembering
for exams should be a piece of cake!
- Perfect Practice
Principle. The
saying is commonplace, "Practice makes perfect." Right?
Wrong! I would change the sentence to read,
"Perfect practice
makes perfect."
What do we mean? Suppose you practiced incorrectly. The
more you practiced, the better you would become at doing
it wrong! Now that really would be counterproductive and
a great waste of your time and effort.
Consider in advance what types of questions will be asked
and then practice getting the answers to similar
questions. This is sometimes difficult, but here are a
few hints. If you know in advance that the questions were
going to be multiple choice, the application of the
perfect practice principle would be to practice using
multiple choice questions. It's that simple. In fact, it
would be helpful to design your own multiple choice
questions. You'll be surprised how easy it is to do, and
how much it helps you prepare for an exam.
It's also a great idea to make flash cards, the kind you
may have used in high school to help you study for
foreign language, biology, or history. All you need are
3" x 5" index cards. Cut them in half, put the key word
on one side and write the definition on the other side.
That's all there is to it. Once you have all the words,
carry the cards with you, and practice, practice,
practice reciting the definitions out loud or writing
them down. If you really know a definition, you'll be
able to tell anyone what the answer is, even to a younger
person!. Go ahead and try this method. It's almost a
guarantee for success.
FOUR BONUS
TIPS
•
Have you heard it? (You will if you don't miss lecture
and discussion)
•
Have you read it? (Read everything in your textbook,
and study the Study Guide)
•
Can you say it?
(You can by repeating out loud what you have heard or
read)
•
Can you write it? (If you can, then you know
it!)
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