If you are like most people, then midterm season probably causes you a lot of stress, especially when you have multiple midterms back to back. This blog post will provide you with five tips on how to effectively prepare for your midterms.
Form a study group
Study groups can be very useful in helping you prepare for your midterms, as long as each member of the group remains focused. One of my favourite things about studying with other people is that, each person has different strengths and weaknesses. So while you may understand a specific concept perfectly, there may be other areas that you may struggle with. In studying with other people, you get the opportunity to clarify any specific questions you have. In addition to this, you get the opportunity to explain the concepts you understand to your group members who may be having a hard time understanding them. Remember that one of the best ways to actually test yourself is to try explaining what you have studied to others. If you are able to this this with no difficulties, you are definitely going to rock that exam!
Make a schedule
In university, it is pretty normal to have multiple midterms back to back. This is where making a schedule becomes very useful. At the start of the semester your professors usually provide you with a syllabus that tells you what days your midterms will fall on. From there, you can outline all these dates on a calendar and make notes on how much time it may take you to prepare for each midterm. This will help you prioritize your activities in the days leading up to your midterms.
Practice exams
The more you practice what you have studied, the more you will remember. Practice exams are a great way to actually evaluate yourself and identify the areas that you may be struggling with. From there, you can decide to allocate more time to studying those challenging concepts. Another great thing about practice exams is that they also allow you to get used to the manner in which questions are formatted. This can save you a lot of time on the actual exam, since you will be familiar with the formats of different questions. Minute School has a number of micro-courses that focus on explaining concepts from a variety of subjects, and practice questions that can help you evaluate your understanding of these concepts.
Ask for help
Your professors and teaching assistants have office hours for a reason. Use them to your advantage. If there are any areas that you may be particularly struggling with, do not hesitate to seek the help you need.
Get some sleep
I cannot stress how important this is. Sleep is very vital when it comes to preparing for exams. It allows you to rest your brain and reduces your stress levels. The night before an exam should not be dedicated to cramming new information, as you most likely will not remember most of it. You should rather be focusing on getting some rest and reviewing your summary notes or practice questions. Getting enough sleep the night before your exam will improve your ability to concentrate, and best of all, you will wake up feeling reenergized.
While midterm season can be a very stressful part of the semester, it is still important to prepare adequately for each exam. I hope you find these tips useful in preparing for your upcoming midterms. Happy studying!