How to study last minute?
Last-minute study tips
- Focus on definitions. (If you know the terms used before you read the text it will make sense!)
- Read the material and make notes on Word or One Note Microsoft.
- Clean your notes up. (Think of what would be on an exam. If the material is basic common sense to you than don’t add it to your notes.)
- Look up exam questions. (Quizlet is my favorite. Google your book name along with “exam” after, you’ll be surprised what you can find.)
- Review your notes and if something doesn’t make sense go back to the book. (If it still doesn’t make sense ask the teacher, most likely they’ll say, “don’t focus on that.”)
- Memorize (use mnemonics): Acronyms, Stories, Rhymes, For formulas, make pictures or graphics
- Read the text and then read it again. It is called “Dejavu reading.” Basically when you read it the second time around you should feel a “oooh I’ve read that and know it already” If you don’t get that feeling then you should probably go back and focus more on that material.
- Pomodoro Technique
- Focus on High-Impact Topics
- Use Visual Aids: Create visual aids such as mind maps, diagrams, and charts to condense information and make it easier to understand quickly.
- Practice Problems
- Flashcards
- Online Resources
- Group Study
- Focus on your Weak Areas
- Organize Information: Create a clear and organized study plan, breaking down your study sessions into specific topics. This can help you stay focused and cover a wide range of material efficiently.
Week plan
1. Create an exam timetable (Day 1)
Spend 30 minutes to open up Google or Outlook Calendar and plan your entire week. Start by entering in your fixed activities and your exam date. Then work backward allowing yourself enough time to study the material. Schedule in exercise and relaxation because you will need some refreshing breaks.
2. Get prepared (Day 1)
Before starting, you need to know what to study and in what order. This is where you focus on the most important topics that you don’t know well, or need to improve. Avoid studying what you already understand. Print this material and sequence it into a logical order that allows you to build on each topic as you go.
3. Start! (Day 1)
The first and sometimes hardest step is starting. Do not procrastinate. Find your favorite study spot where you can focus and avoid distractions. This could be in the library, your room, study area, or even a quiet cafe. Open your books, take out a pen, and begin your week long journey to exam success.
4. Efficient note-taking (Day 1–4)
Go through the class material and take notes of the main concepts and points. Write them in your own words and structure your notes so each section stands out. Avoid writing too much or reading every single word. If you have case studies or readings, then highlight key phrases or write notes in the margin. At the end, summarize them in your own words. Note-taking is a great way to reinforce concepts and further your understanding.
5. Practice makes perfect (Day 5 & 6)
Now that you have gone through the important material and taken notes, you are ready to practice. Use past exam papers if available or compile questions from textbooks and make your own practice exam. The trick with practice exams is to recreate an exam environment. Find a quiet location, set your timer, and go through each question as you would in an exam. This step is best performed one or two days before your exam.
6. Review and improve (Day 5 & 6)
After you complete each practice exam, review your answers against the model answers. If model answers aren’t available, try YouTube, refer to your notes, or ask for help. The review will identify areas you still need to learn, and by repeating the process you will improve quickly. The more practice exams you complete, the better!
7. Ask for help (Day 1–6)
with one week to go asking for help could save you a lot of time. If you don’t understand a concept or question, ask your classmates or professor. You can either organize a group study session to compare answers, arrange a time to meet your professor, or do the one I found most helpful which was to join a social media group and help each other with exam questions.
Long-term study tips
- Do your homework
- Revise
- Ask questions
- Study with friends
- Be diligent
- Read everything assigned to you during the course of the semester.
- Remember that the amount of hours put in doesn’t matter. It’s the quality of the hours that you put in that matter.
- Eat cleaner. Cut out sugars and bad foods. Stick to Vegan plus Fish. Fish is good for the brain.
All these tips are good, but the most important thing is actually studying last minute and giving it your all and it doesn’t really matter how you do it
