So, you survived the Mayan apocalypse. But, the real question is, can you survive midterms? Between the overload of scantron bubbles and lengthy review packets, midterms can be a source of significant stress. Here are eight study secrets to help you survive.
1. Don’t procrastinate
Many students try to go over all the work from an entire semester in only a night or two. Even for a regular test, it is difficult to prepare in one night, so you can’t expect to be ready for a midterm that covers months worth of material.
“Only giving yourself one or two nights to go back over four months of material can be a big mistake,” physics and math teacher Mr. Long said.
2. Get help from teachers
The teachers know what is on the midterm better than anyone, so take any help you can get from them. Study sessions with teachers can be very beneficial. Teachers are always pleased to answer any questions you have, so if there’s something you don’t understand, ask them about it.
“Making note of the concepts that are unclear or confusing,” biology teacher Mrs. Searfoss said. “Then ask about these concepts during a study hall or before or after school with the teacher.”
3. Take breaks
Studying can be very tedious, so it is always important to take breaks and get away from it for a little while. Just make sure you don’t start spending more time taking breaks than studying.
4. Review work
Look over all the work you have done over the course of the semester including tests, homework, and quizzes. If there is something you didn’t understand the first time, take time to relearn it for the midterm. Make sure that you understand the concepts fully, rather than just going through the study guide questions.
“Don’t assume that by answering study guide questions you are prepared,” government teacher Mrs. Quartuch said. “You need to test yourself to see what you need to focus on before the actual exam.”
5. Prioritize
Even if it is easier to focus on an easy class, focus your efforts on the class you struggle with the most. The teachers who give difficult tests will probably continue that pattern with the difficulty of their midterms. Study the material that is most important, including material that was emphasized, or that you were tested on.
6. Study with friends
Studying can be extremely boring, so forming a study group can make it more interesting. Often friends also understand something you don’t, and vise versa, so studying with others can help to make sure you understand everything. Be sure that the time is spent studying and not socializing by picking people to study with you know will help you learn the most.
7. Get study snacks
Buy lots of snacks for while you are studying. They can act as brain food or just a way to make studying less painful. There are many tasty and healthy snacks to pick from.
“I eat cookies, pretzels, and apples,” freshman Daniela Silva said.
8. Keep it in perspective
Midterms can be extremely stressful, but although it is important to study enough, don’t get too caught up in them. If you are too stressed, it may hurt your performance on midterms. Make sure you don’t lose time for necessities like sleep; exhaustion and stress can cancel out that 3 a.m. study session. The key is to create a balance between studying and relaxing.
