Study Tips for Exam Success

Posted February 2, 2007

If your High School is on the semester system then most likely you have just finished, or are soon to be finished your final exams.

I can remember cramming on my back porch for my Grade 10 Biology finals. (This is going back a while now; Quite a while.) I remember that I spent the better part of an entire day reading over every note, scribble, and comment that I had ever made. This particular cram-a-thon stands out in my memory, not because of what I studied, or how well I did on the exam, but because of the spectacular sunburn that I got as I sat immobilized for hours on the back porch. In fact, by the weekend after the exam, I had totally forgotten every word that I so diligently crammed.

I know this because to this day, I don’t remember a single thing about grade 10 Biology; Nothing. Only the memory of the sunburn remains.

It seems to me now, looking back, that perhaps the technique of gorging myself on Biology was not the most effective study technique. In fact, I know now that it wasn’t.

But what could I have done differently with my study habits to make how I studied more effective?

Well, for starters, I should not have tried to study everything in one afternoon session. I’m guilty of procrastination. I admit it. By the time I entered university, I learned my lesson: Cramming Doesn’t Work. It just doesn’t.

Once I finally grasped this concept, I started to develop better study habits. Habits like reading over the notes that I took during the day, and paraphrasing the teacher’s notes using my own words. When it came time for a midterm or a final, I’d look over my own notes and ask myself, “Do I know what this is about? Can I talk about this unit in my own words?” When I answered myself with “maybe,” or a “not really,” I would read the unit carefully, then cover up my notes and recite them back in my own words.

Why would you want to recite stuff back in your own words? The answer is simple. When you recite and paraphrase, it means that you understand. And, understanding is better than memorizing. When you memorize, you only remember the stuff that you just read for a short time. When you understand, it sticks.

Another great tip that I learned was giving myself plenty of time. You know when the teacher tells you that a test is coming up? That’s the day to start reviewing your notes. It seems simple enough, right? When you are told that a test is coming up, don’t wait until the last minute to start studying. It’s one of the most basic rules of effective studying: Give yourself plenty of time.

Now put these tips all together:

Give yourself plenty of time
Read over your notes every night
Paraphrase the text book and the teacher’s notes
Read something, cover it up, and recite it back until you know it.
Don’t memorize it. Understand it.

There is also one other important tip. If you are unsure about a concept, or don’t understand something, make sure that you ask for extra help. Talk to the teacher. Get another student to help you. Just like the golden rule for studying, (give yourself plenty of time), don’t wait until the last minute to let your teacher know that you need help.

That’s it. These are the best tips to help you not only to study, but to study effectively.

If only I had figured this stuff out back in High School, I might have been able to tell you something about my Grade 10 Biology.

Science diagram of a cell

Sally

These tips work well!!
Minu ,Jan 14,2009

Really! Wonderful tips.One can really get help from these tips.Actually,I am really been helped by these.I am surely going to discuss them with my teacher and my friends.A great job done by you to aware weak students who really depends upon cramming the stuff.The one who reads it will definetly like it and would follow it.As I also belong to the same category of students I am going to stick them in my mind and follow them. One thing I want to tell you is please.do also explain about diffrent tricks of scoring good marks in exams like- Increasing writing speed especially for social studies and biology.A very critical aspect of science is diagrams.Do practice them alot. May you like my opinion. THANKS!!!!
Taylor

How many hours of studying is too much or too little? What would you reccomend?
ydtdt

thx for tryn 2 help but it aint workin man
moi

blah blah blah i am so boerd
fara

i really, really need to obtain 8A’s for my PMR exam this year . i don’t want my parents to be upset with my unwell result…that’s why i really need to get it !!!
sweet

how can i top in my xam??
anna

I m not that bad at learning things but i keep on forgetting them and get confuse, What do I do?
KAI

YOUR ESSAY IS SIMPLY GREAT
konark

boards are not a problem .dont work harder work smarter like me.
jivesh

i am an idiot. i know it.i study 14 to 15 hours a day and still i am failing in allmost all the subjects
vivek

no use of reading this topic
f***k

thanks.. usefull
lauren

me and my friend are writing and article in the school newspaper. we decided on top 10 study tips. now i just need some-they have to be short but useful. and for kids grades 7-9. if anyone has any that would just be amazing, and i would be very grateful
lauren

sorry…greatfull is spelt wrong
Cassey

this was interesting, you its true about studying early especially when you have a test coming up because it doesn’t help cramming. THANKS!!!
HOMEWORKISCOOL

SCIENCE IS EASY. I’M PULLING A 100 RIGHT NOW BRAP BRAP!
lauren

i agree science is easy. but math is the hardest-i just cant seem to be able to focus on it
lauren

oh ya and kels and Jo Jonas…..dont even bother commenting anymore if you dont care what people think, its quite immature and annoying.
BASANI

HI GUYS I SERIOUSLY HAVE PROBLEM, I CAN REALLY STUDY FOR AN HOUR BECAUSE I GET DISTRACTED. IM IN GRD 10 ITS A SERIOUS GRADE PLS HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
lauren

just go to a quiet room and vocus on nothing but your subject-if you cant then work with someone who isnt a social butterfly and doesnt get distracted
Joe Jonas

Hi Lauren, you sound a little pent-up, perhaps before you write your ’10 study tips’ article, you should look into a ’10 coping with stress’ article. I wouldnt worry either way, nobody reads their school newspaper. p.s. Grateful is spelt grateful, not greatful…invest in a spell checker before you write your article.
DIVYA

I was so scared when my exams were coming.My exams were in the month of january.I read only the chapter and then I open my notebook I see the questions, almost I know all the questions.So whenever exams come I do this thing.now this my tip that you also read the chapter only 3 times
Jahnvi Pandya

when I came to higher classses I was so worried for my terminal exams and as i followed these tips i stood first in my class and I thank google to display these bnrilliant sites.I suugest to send some more brilliant sites to i8nternet thankyou
monkeeloverr<3

this was mkayyy. and i like monkeyss
Rose

My grade 10 History final is coming up, and I’ve no idea what I’m doing. This sure does help, but I do wish I had known these tips earlier! Thanks.
Hold the Olives

that ROCKZZZZZZZZZZ thx
Hold the Olives

Now I cant wait for my Geography paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Richard

I have to get 5 a+s on my mid term math exam or my mom won’t let me out of my room for a year
C:Laa

oh boy my exam’s tomorrow /=
Paulie

I’m worried that I don’t know fractions well enough for my exam. I have a question if anyone wants to answer it, Im just real stuck on it. Is 1/1 = to 1? I dont get them at all
Selma-aug 17,2009

Thanks for the advice,it help alot for me and my friends.
Bob wa Longowa

thanks for the wonderful tips, they are in my hands in the rigth time. these will help me to do better in my stuys
Sam

Thank you for the tips
My comment is false

Thx 4 tha tips, guyzz, im glad theyre in my hands, the tipzz that is…cool.
atsuki

thx 4 the tips… i`ll do it and these will help me to do better in my study
Nick Jonas

I hate you, Joe. You are harrassing everybody who reads this article. Lauren can’t spell. The end.
Taylor Lautner

Yeah, that’s right, I gained thirty lbs of pure muscle in less than a year. You’re jealous. Beat that, Robert!
leighanne blackburn

i like the way u put so it doesnt make high schoolers feel all stressed over nothing it can really help so u can get ur credits for graduation
God

SCREW EXAMMMZZ!!! I KNOW I’M AN IDIOT! ~ This message is supported by barack obama.
Hukum khan

i need more help because i am giving my exam these tips are very useful
Lis

I have to agree with the psychology student. I’m a straight A biology university student and I usually revert to cramming in many incidents during exams. Cramming works if you actively listen to lectures throughout the semester and already have a good understanding of the material.
riya

the same prob. is with me.but i think you will not be confused if you understand and write in your own words.
Chesiny

This is great;i used them in my high school and really made it to a med. school. cheers
http://student_science@yahoo.com ayesha

vv helpful,,,,deeply ,or simple fabulous
http://www.buywomenscheapboots.com ugg boots overstock

I must convey my respect for your kind-heartedness for those people that absolutely need assistance with this content. Your personal commitment to getting the message up and down appears to be pretty advantageous and have frequently enabled professionals much like me to realize their endeavors. Your entire interesting hints and tips means a whole lot to me and even more to my office workers. Warm regards; from all of us.
http://ptc-box-payment-proof.weebly.com/ get paid to click with ptcbox.com

Good thinking. Wondering what you think of it’s implication on society as a whole though? Sometimes people get a little upset with global expansion. I will be back soon and follow up with a response.
ajit soren

everything depends on how u work to achieve your aim.
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/3860756/ russische tastatur

I’ve recently started a web site, the info you offer on this internet site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & function.
http://icecap.us/index.php/member/211375/ Bridgett Loung

Simply a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design and style. “Justice is always violent to the party offending, for every man is innocent in his own eyes.” by Daniel Defoe.