Final exams are almost upon us. With papers, projects and presentations piling up (say that three times fast!) sometimes life gets in the way and studying for exams is given last priority. I’ve totally been there, more often than I’d like to admit.
When it comes to studying at the last second, and I’m talking really last second here – cramming 2-3 hours before an exam at the last second – it can be overwhelming.
I’ve seen a lot of “last study tips” that start with “the week before the exam” and let’s be honest, chances are if you’re reading this right now, you’re hoping to find a way to ace this test. , it’s closer than a week.
I want to be clear that I am in no way saying that it is okay to give up studying and preparing for these methods beforehand. Studying and getting work done as soon as possible should definitely be your first choice. However, sometimes it just can’t happen.
Life happens and now you need tips on how to prepare for the exam you have to take today. that’s why I’m here.
These are some of your really tried and true techniques, but different methods work for different people, so adjust them to suit your personal learning style.
Each technique here is organized based on how you take notes during class, with special tips for each cramming time frame. There are tips on how to start studying one day, 5 hours and 1 hour before the exam while implementing these techniques.
Typed notes or a PowerPoint lecture are available
I write down all my class notes and most of my professors make their lectures online for download. If this applies to you, or even if you’re the fast type, start using Quizlet.
Quizlet is an easy to use and super powerful online flashcard creator.
Cool Features: In addition to note cards, Quizlet can take your note cards and turn them into a multiple choice/fill-in-the-blank quiz, a matching card game, and even an asteroid-style typing game. Share the link with your classmates and they can add/edit note cards as well as compete with you in quizzes and games.
Start of studies 1 day before the exam:
If you’ve written your notes before or have a lecture PowerPoint, go through and copy and paste your notes into Quizlet note cards. If you haven’t written your notes before, take an hour or so to go through taking notes on your quiz note cards. Focus primarily on key concepts/definitions/important data.
Go through them and study them flashcard style for 25 minutes, take a 10 minute break, take 3 quizzes and note which questions you got wrong. Then go back and star the note cards that relate to the questions you missed on the quizzes, then go through and review only the starred ones for another 25 minutes, then take a 10 minute break. Then try the matching game and the asteroid game.
Keep revising using these methods today and on exam day.
Start of learning 5 hours before the exam:
If you have your notes typed or in PowerPoint, copy and paste them into the quiz note cards for review. If not, go through the notes and enter only the key terms. Flip through note cards, play quizzes, play matching games and asteroids.
Take a break and eat a meal about 1.5 hours before the exam, brain food! Then get back to studying. Look at the flash cards and star any terms you are missing to review separately.
Start of learning 1 hour before the exam:
Copy and paste your notes or lecture PowerPoints into a quiz focusing on key concepts. Look at the note cards twice. When you take this quiz, you turn them over in your head to see the answer. Turn each card back and forth several times and read the term and definition aloud.
If you remember your professor directly saying it would be on the exam, star those cards and review them separately a few times.
Download the Quizlet app to your phone and keep checking when you go to class to take the test.
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Handwritten notes + study guide
write a rough outline of what you would write for the essay question. There is no need to write a whole essay if you are not really worried about it, just an outline is enough.
Start of learning 5 hours before the exam:
Gather your materials (notes, study guide, highlighters, note cards) and get to work.
Highlight only the key terms in your study guide that match the key terms in your notes and copy them into your note cards, which are either online (quiz!) or handwritten. Don’t waste time writing information you already know – write information you don’t know or aren’t completely sure about.
Make sure you cover as much of the information that is in the study guide as possible, but stop after no more than 2 hours to make sure you have enough time to actually study the cards.
Check them out now. Test yourself, put aside the deck of cards you’re struggling with, and go through them more intensively on your own.
If your exam involves solving problems or applying theories, create examples for yourself or find some online to test your knowledge.
If you have time, give your note cards or highlighted notes to a friend and ask them to test you. Use the “teaching” method of studying, where you teach your friend a concept that in turn helps you remember and understand it better.
Make sure you eat a small meal at least 1 hour before the exam so you can concentrate better! Then continue the quiz with these note cards and check any other expressions in the notes that you did not copy onto the cards.
Start of learning 1 hour before the exam:
Being strapped for time doesn’t mean panic, but it does mean you need to move fast. Get a study guide, notes and a highlighter.
Highlight the terms in your notes that match the terms from the study guide – but make sure you actually read them as you go! After you highlight something, repeat it 3 times in your head and 2 times out loud before moving on to highlight the next thing.
Focus on the concepts you don’t fully know or understand, don’t waste time on the concepts you already know. After you have highlighted information from the study guide, go through it and review it again and again.
Don’t waste time writing sticky notes, but if you have a friend around, give them your highlighted notes and ask if they can test you by asking about concepts.
When your friend asks you something, try to ‘teach’ them a concept so they understand. This will help you better understand / remember the information yourself!
Keep going through and re-reading the notes, both in your head and out loud. If it suits you, rewrite the concepts on a separate piece of paper. Then it’s time for exams!
Handwritten notes only
No study guide? Or written notes? Not a problem.
Start of studies 1 day before the exam:
Take those handwritten notes, another piece of paper, note cards and highlighters. Follow:
