Examinations are part of your stay in top colleges in the Philippines. However, with so many other activities that steals student’s time and attention, not to mention the time you spend binge watching the latest season of your favorite TV series, there is a tendency that you will end up cramming, skipping meals, and stocking up on caffeine as you try to double time and burn the midnight oil.
To have a hassle free midterms week,here are some tips on how you can effectively study for your exams:
Be prepared
Always have a planner handy. Take note of your requirements and their due dates. Keep your supplies stocked with pencils, pens, yellow pad, and graphing papers. You can even keep more than two scientific calculators ready with them.
Take and review your notes
Taking notes will help you organize information according to your strengths and weaknesses. You are more likely to write down things you didn’t know or understand. The information you have taken down will provide you the ideas you need to be able to organize your study time more effectively. Learning happens in note taking because it allows the person to make connections between ideas presented to them.
Eat
Just because you are busy studying does not mean you have to skip meals and resort to eating junk food. It may be easy to call up the nearest fast food, but eating food rich in vitamins actually makes studying more productive. Food like apples, walnuts, and blueberries can improve your ability to concentrate, retain information, and keep you mentally alert. Plus, eating right keeps you perky and alert so you will always feel motivated to study.
Find your learning style
Do you like listening to music as you study? Or do you like creating diagrams and flowcharts out of the concepts you have learned? Whether you are a visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learner, there is a wide array of studying techniques that suit your learning style. A study habit which fits your learning style will help you understand and remember your lessons better.
Take breaks
Remember the saying ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’? While it is good to take your lessons seriously, do not forget to give yourself a break once in a while. Taking a breather gives your mind a fresh outlook, making you more productive.
Get enough sleep
Your mind tends to wander around if it is tired and overworked. Get enough sleep, especially during the night before your exams. Take short breaks between 50 and 60 minutes to let your mind unwind and take a breather.
Be positive
Don’t worry yourself by asking a series of ‘what ifs’. Your mood and motivation will be negatively affected if you keep on worrying over the most trivial of things. Positive thoughts will attract positive results. Be optimistic! A little bit of optimism won't hurt. So what if it’s one of the hardest subjects you are taking this term? You have higher chances of passing if you have studied well for your exams. You've studied for it, so claim it!