How to Study for Science Courses and Exams

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Science courses like chemistry and biology can be hard subjects to grasp if you don't have much of a scientific background. But all is not lost. You can learn to study specifically for your science exams by trying a few new tricks.

Things You'll Need

• Textbook
• Notebook
• Pen or Pencil
• Computer (optional)
• Tutor or tutoring center
• Study buddy or study group

Instructions

1. Study for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Don't study more than this. You need to take a 5 minute break and NOT think about what you are studying. This gives your brain time to process what you just learned.

2. Read the list of heading topics for the chapter to get a broad idea of what you will be studying.

3. Don't read or watch TV during your break. Get up and walk around or get a glass of water.

4. Suck on candy every time you study. If you do it every time you study and then do it during the test, your association of the two things will help you remember important points.

5. Get together with a classmate or a bunch of classmates and have a study group. The best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else.

6. Your college has a tutoring center. Use it. Many colleges will have tutors for specific subjects such as chemistry, biology, and anatomy. Go in with questions about what you read. Find out if you need to schedule an appointment or if the tutoring center has walk-in hours.

7. While you are reading, pay attention to words that are in lists, italicised, and bolded. Write them down and what they mean.

8. Answer the questions at the end of every chapter, even if they haven't been assigned by the teacher. Review the material for the questions you got wrong.

9. Your professor has posted office hours. Go straight to the source with a question on a topic and ask for helpful ways to study for the test.

10. Write out potential questions that you think the professor may use on the exam. Use the headings, lists, and bolded words to write questions.

11. Know the test format. Will it be multiple choice, true or false, short answer, or a combination?

12. If there is a review at the end of the chapter that summarizes everything for you, be sure to read it at least once or twice. This will help you pick out the areas of the text that you may need to reread.

13. Go to bed at a reasonable time on the night before the exam.

14. Eat breakfast. If you are daydreaming about eggs benedict, you aren't focused on answering the questions carefully.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be afraid to ask for help. The only stupid question is the one you never ask.

• Don't cram. Science is not something you can cram for in one night.