Study Tips for Midterms and Finals

Keep the following in mind:   Studies show that poor use of time, not lack of intelligence, is the leading cause of poor academic performance.  Students who don't succeed either invest too little time in their studies, or invest their time in ineffective and outdated study strategies.

Step One:   Prepare for the Exam

Physically

1.   If you eat something, drink water. Sodas contain sugar and this can affect your mood and your stress level.   Stay away from junk food and caffeine-high drinks.   Don't eat large amounts of food, because that can make you sleepy.

2.   Periodically, while studying, try to refresh and rejuvenate yourself by walking outside if it is cool, or splashing some cold water on your face or feet.  Chew a refreshing mint or drink some ice cold water.

3.   Take deep breaths and do some stretching exercises in between sections of study.  One is to roll your head around to stretch and flex your neck and shoulder muscles.  This will relieve stress and relax your mind.

4.   Get a good night's sleep prior to each test.

5.   Exercise your hand! It may sound crazy now, but if your hand starts to cramp up during the writing of an essay exam, you could be in real trouble for the second exam.   Practice writing on a note pad the week prior to your exams.

6.   Make sure you have all items needed for the exam: paper, extra pens or pencils, and a "blue book exam" if required.

Mentally

1.   As you take notes during class sessions, listen for "code" words from the instructor such as, "this is a very important issue," "once again we see" or "another similar event occurred" make a note of it. watch for anything that indicates a pattern or chain of events.

2.   Make sure you that after every class, you review the material covered some time later that same day.   Choose a quiet place, away from distractions of sound and activity (or use earplugs).   Stay away from the television or other media that could capture your attention.

3.   Analyze returned tests.   If you receive your test back to keep, rework your errors to find out why the correct answer was correct.  If you do not receive your test back, make an appointment with your instructor to take a look at your answers and the questions you missed. Look for the origin of each question: text, notes, lab, supplementary reading, etc. Identify the reason you missed questions.  Did you fail to read it correctly?   Did you fail to prepare for it?   Was the test more difficult than you prepared for?   Did you run out of time?  Check the level of detail and skill of the test.  Were most of the questions over precise details and facts or were they over main ideas and principles?   Did the questions come straight from the text or did the testmaker expect you to make sophisticated transformations and analyses?

4.   Review chapter titles.   Textbook chapters often refer to themes.   Look at each relevant title and think of smaller ideas, chains of events, and relevant terms that fit is key.

5.   Identify possible test questions as you review.

Recite the material to yourself immediately (self-testing at the end of each part can enhance recall even without later review).

6.   When you don't understand something, take the time to contact your instructor during his/her office hours.

To find out about the test, ask the professor how long it will be and what kind of questions will be on it.  Ask your instructor which concepts are most important, which chapters to focus on, and what you will have to do on the test.  Also ask for some sample test questions.  Your aim is to determine both the content of the questions and the type of memory and intellectual skills you will be asked to use.  Examples of these skills include:

  • Remembering specific facts, details, terms, and definitions.
  • Comparing, contrasting, or interpreting meanings.
  • Applying principles and theories to solve problems.
  • Predicting possible outcomes given a set of variables.
  • Evaluating the usefulness of certain ideas, concepts, or methods for a given situation.
  • Evaluating the usefulness of certain ideas, concepts, or methods for a given situation.
7.   Overview all the work to be done and schedule time to do it.  Make a list of all tasks you must complete to prepare for the test, and prioritize these tasks.

8.   Block out any stressful thoughts.  These can keep you from the concentration you need to focus on the subject matter.

Avoid the "escape syndrome."   If you find yourself fretting or talking about your work rather than studying, relax for a few minutes.  Rethink and reappraise what you are doing, then do it!

9.   Study with other well-prepared students and attend any review sessions.  Such sessions are to clarify material. Do not expect them to repeat lectures or give additional information.

Step Two: Show up Prepared, Relaxed and Confident

1.   Get a good night's sleep prior to the test.   Do not stay up all night trying to learn that "one last concept."

2.   Go over your notes just before going to sleep.  Do not interrupt this pattern with an activity such as going to the movies.   You will remember what you last did.

3.   Make the morning of the test a routine one.   Do not rush out of the house, miss the bus, chase the dog down the street, or spill coffee all over yourself, etc.

4.   Get to the exam room early and pick a seat where you will not be disturbed by bad lighting or a nervous student.

5.   Be sure you have everything you need for the test: pencils, pens, paper, etc.

6.   Stay away from others right before the test, because anxiety is highly contagious. Get into a "fighting" attitude, emotionally ready to do your best.

7.   Keep a positive frame of mind.   Tell yourself that you have prepared faithfully for this test, and mentally challenge the professor to "bring it on!" Do not waiver in this attitude.  If you spent the time preparing for this test, then you should be looking forward to showing what you have learned.

Test Taking Strategies

Tests measure how you are doing in a class.  Doing well on tests requires test-taking skills, a positive attitude, strategic thinking and planning, and a solid grasp of the material. 

1.   When you receive your test use the back to jot down all the information you might forget, but first, ask whether you can write on the test form.

2.   Preview the whole test before trying to answer any questions.  Ask the instructor to clarify any ambiguities.  Read the directions carefully.

3.   Plan your time.  Allow the most time for the questions, which offer the most points, and leave time at the end to review.

4.   Start with the easy questions to build confidence, trigger recall of other information, and gain time for harder questions.  Cycle through again to work on the harder items.  Save your guessing for last.  Never leave an unanswered question; you may get partial credit for a partial answer.

5.   Do not panic if you see a question you did not anticipate.  Use everything you know to analyze the question and create a logical answer.

6.   Read the question as is. Look for key words.  Show all your work.  Use lists when appropriate and outline essays before writing.

True-False Questions

1.   Be sure that every part of the question is correct.  For the question to be true, every detail within must also be true.

2.   Check to see how qualifiers are used.  Questions containing words like always, never, and only are usually false.  Questions using less definite terms like often and frequently, are usually true.

3.   Be alert for negatives and negative prefixes (not, cannot, un, in, non).  Negatives make the meaning of a statement more complicated.  Try restating the idea in positive terms, then put the negatives back in and decide if any part of the statement is false.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1.   Read the question carefully; with careful reading you will find that the right answer is frequently apparent.

2.   Question choices that use absolute words such as always, never, and only.  These choices are often incorrect.  Read carefully for terms like not, except, and but.

3.   If an answer does not come to you quickly, mark the question and move on to another; a later test item may jolt your memory.

4.   As you work through your options, cross out the ones that seem wrong.  Eliminate as many choices as you can so as to increase the odds in your favor.  Often the process of elimination is the only way to answer a question.

5.   Try putting the question into true-false terms; make a complete statement of the stem of each option.

6.   Guess.  When guessing, remember that "All of the above" is more often correct than wrong.

Matching Questions

1.   Before answering the matching-question part of the exam, review all of the terms and descriptions.

2.   Match up those terms you are sure of first.  Cross out items as they are eliminated.

3.   The relationship is the crucial factor in a set of matching items.  Usually the relationship is common to all included items (terms in onc column, definitions in the other).

Essay Questions

1.   Before you write, read all of the questions and underline key words.  Develop an outline.

2.   While you write, state your thesis, follow your outline, provide specific examples, and get to the point quickly.

3.   Write neatly. Draw conclusions and summarize.

4.   Proofread your answers.