Who does not know this? Exam time is just around the corner and you’d love to crawl into your bed and watch your favorite show. Books and notes pile up on a desk that is far too small, but WhatsApp and planning the next pub crawl are much more interesting. You put off studying until you only have a few days left until the dreaded day. And then it means: gallons of coffee and studying all night long. But put an end to it! With these 7 tips you are best prepared for your next exam.
1. Self-test
Find out what type of learner you are! Can you memorize things better when reading or listening?? Do you prefer to study with your fellow students or alone?? Be aware of these things. Only then can you plan and tackle your learning path sensibly.
Tip: If you can learn better on your own, you should not be put off by others!
2. Preparation
First get an overview of your learning material! Then you can create a study plan and prepare your learning environment. Disturbing factors such as noise, cell phones or annoying roommates should – if possible – be moved out of the way. Starting to learn is the biggest challenge for many people. But you shouldn’t put it off, but overcome your inner pig dog and simply start. Most of the time, it’s harder to get started than it is to learn.
Tip: Summarize lectures and write study notes while you’re still in the semester. Then you don’t have to do everything at the last minute.
3. Study methods
Take breaks and don’t get stuck on one thing at a time! Don’t spend the whole day on the same subject area. Change the topic after each learning break, this ensures variety. If things get stuck, don’t despair, but put them aside and look over them later with a clear head. You can also try different learning methods and see which one helps you the most. Whether flashcards, drawing pictures, narrating, bullet points, or simply reading through texts several times and marking them as you go along. But don’t panic about too many and too long texts. With a little practice and a lot of concentration, you will become a proficient reader who can spare himself a SpeedReading course. Yes, read that right! There is a course that can increase, even double, your reading speed. In the USA, courses like this are part of everyday study life.
Tip: Write small "cheat sheets"! If you have to write very small and in a small space, you will remember what you have written better.
4. Smartphone generation
Use your cell phone wisely! You can do just about anything with your smartphone these days. Navigation, weather forecast, image editing . Why not study as well? Download a learning app to your phone or use voice input to record what you’ve learned. So you can listen to it at any time – whether on the train, while cooking or doing sports – and memorize it even better.
But Attention: Your phone with all its great features and apps could easily distract you from what’s important – learning! Who from WhatsApp, Facebook and Co. can’t keep their hands off, should rather activate the flight mode.
5. Motivation
Achieving small learning goals and rewarding them increases motivation! Aim for small learning successes and then reward yourself with something that brings you joy. A piece of chocolate, cooking with friends, a round of jogging in the park … Above all, exercise is important – as a change of pace and to clear your head. Simply switch off must also be sometimes!
Tip: Don’t look at your watch all the time! It only makes you nervous and puts you under time pressure.
6. learning in your sleep
Learning is more effective right before bedtime! Before you go to sleep, reread the material you learned during the day. Your brain processes content overnight and stores it faster in long-term memory.
Scientists prove: a full night shift before the exam is not very advisable. 24 hours without sleep weakens the body like 1.0 per mille of alcohol in the blood.
7. Positive attitude
Not to despair and constantly criticize oneself! Try to be proud even of small learning successes and not to see everything blackly. Take earlier good grades as an incentive and bad grades as an incentive to improve yourself. And always remember: You’re doing it all by choice, no one is forcing you. You have decided on your studies and are interested in them.
All the way important: Keep a positive attitude and believe in yourself!
Conclusion
Everybody learns individually! These tips are not official instructions, just a small suggestion for facilitated learning. In the end you have to find out for yourself how you learn best. Maybe you can also get tips from friends or get advice from your lecturers.