How to Cram for a Test

Cramming, while not an ideal style of study, is an inevitable part of student life. Focus on general concepts, memory techniques and relaxation.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Palm Handheld Organizers
• Portable CD Players
• Candles
• Bottled Water
• Dried Fruits
• High-energy Snacks
• Nuts
• Relaxing CDs
• Pencils
• Index Cards
• Notebooks
• Pencils
• Pens
• Personal Organizers
• Candles
• Pencils
• Pens
• Notebooks

1. Compose yourself. Relax and take several deep breaths to clear your mind of clutter and stress.

2. Cover the most difficult information first.

3. Review the main points, general ideas and broad, sweeping concepts. These are essential to understanding the more detailed points on which you will be tested.

4. Skim lecture notes and assigned reading materials (see 'How to Read Quickly and Effectively').

5. Take breaks to stretch, relax, eat or exercise. As a general rule, you should take a break for 10 minutes out of every hour.

6. Review the main points and concepts one more time and then get some sleep before the big exam.

Tips & Warnings

• Go easy on the caffeine and sugar. The initial boost from these substances will inevitably be followed by a crash.
• Nourish yourself. Eat a good meal with a balanced carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. Avoid overeating, which tends to cause sluggishness.
• Avoid staying up all night before a test. Depriving yourself of sleep may hurt more than it helps.

[burnsss]

on 4/11/2007 I found out that typing your notes is a really big help. Especially for someone like me, with chicken scratch all over their paper. This way will help you retain some of the information and also give you better material to study from.

on 8/8/2006 One of the best ways you can review for a test is to rewrite your notes. At the end of each section, and a week or two before test time, rewrite all your notes from that section *textbook & class.* You can even color code certain things like, important dates, definitions, etc., so that you can easily find them when you start really studying for the test.

on 8/8/2006 If you have to cram for a test or exam, look over all of the quizzes or important worksheets you took. The tests normally have questions a lot like the ones from the quizzes.

on 8/8/2006 Make sure you look over the important stuff that you can predict will be on the test. Think back to when you were in class and what the teacher was talking about. Highlight the key points!

on 8/8/2006 You need your sleep. Staying up all night (or too late) will do you no good. The next day on the test you are practically dead. You also need healthy food.

No caffeine or sugar! You will crash!