Written by Tip Fallon and Erik Hyrkas
Let’s be real: Your professor announces the first test that’s been blatantly on your syllabus the first six weeks of school, and you’re still in shock. You may have not even bought your book, let alone opened it until now. This test determines 30% of your grade, encompasses all of the material you may or may not have listened to during lecture, and requires you to rethink your partying habits for the next week or two.
Here are keys to help you get through midterms without having a nervous breakdown.
1. Unplug and focus.
I know there’s guys and girls to chill with, football to be watched, and Facebook farms to be harvested. Those things make college fun, but remember why you’re here – to get a degree and respectable GPA. Imagine if you harnessed all the brainpower you use on Facebook, Twitter, and JuicyCampus to studying for just a couple hours! The first step to effective studying is to unplug and get away from distractions. A few places where you can unplug: library, empty classrooms, coffee shops, and computer labs to name a few. Block off however much time you need to go and concentrate. Don’t worry, your friends will be there when you get back.
And if you need your laptop, turn off the wi-fi if you don’t need to be on the internet.
What’s that? You’re clinically addicted to Facebook? Have a (very trusted) friend change your password and hold it for “ransom” until after you finished studying for the day.
Where will you unplug? When will you block off time to do so?
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2. Set goals on learning, not study time.
If you’re like most students you probably tell yourself, “okay, one more episode of The Office then I have to study for two hours.” You’ll probably learn something, but did you learn everything you really need to while you were dreadfully waiting for those two hours to pass? Instead of setting the limit or goal for studying to be based on time, set it on what you need to learn. For example, “okay, I need to get a 90% on these chapter review problems.” Then work however long it takes – 30 minutes or 3 hours. That way you’re gaining what matters: the material. You don’t get extra credit on your exam for how long you sat in a library, all that matters is whether or not you know the material and can get the questions right.
3. Teach your material
Let’s go pro with your study goals. It’s said that the best way to develop thorough knowledge about something is to teach it.
Try setting a goal as “be able to teach the 4 laws of Thermodynamics.” Or whatever you’re studying. Then whip out a blank sheet of paper after you’re done studying and teach the material from what you know. Pretend there is a mock student there with you asking questions along the way. Better yet, do this with a friend – have him drill you with questions until you can answer all of them. You’ll walk into the exam with much higher confidence, saying to yourself, “I could teach this stuff.”
Specifically what do you need to learn for your next exam? Could you teach it?
4. Stop studying – once you reach your goals.
It can seem like you have endless material to study. Set goals (as in #2) on exactly how much you need to learn each week or day. Once you hit the goal for the week or day, take a break. Your job is done. You could study more, but chances are it may not be relevant, and it may only confuse your brain in this sleep-deprived state. Go play video games, hit the b-ball court, or stalk your crush on Facebook with zero guilt about what else you should be studying.
What are your goals for the week or day?
5. Use your resources.
Have you been to office hours? Asked someone who is doing better in the class than you to study with them? Asked your professor if he has exams from previous semesters? Asked for help from anyone who took the class last semester? If you have – then you did way more than I did in college! And if not – why not? One of the things I would have done in college is make better use of those resources when studying. Remember, your professor’s JOB (at least in part) is to make sure you know the material when you graduate. Don’t be shy in asking questions. It’s what you pay him/her for.
Want to step your game up a little further? Check out Cal Newport’s blog on studying.
What office hours should you go to?
Who in your class can you study with?
6. Maintain perspective
During one of my exam periods – complete with sleepless nights, logical questioning of the human existence, and veins throbbing out of my head – a friend told me, “When the greatest stress in your life is a stack of paper filled with random information, you’ve got it pretty good.”
Midterms are the wake-up call to you that summer is over, and it’s time to start learning – not stressing out. Use these tips to help you do your best then don’t sweat it. To be honest, unless you’re going to graduate school, as long as your GPA is respectable, no one is really going to care about it – dates or employers. And one exam grade isn’t going to make or break your GPA.
Happy learning.
