Written by Savannah Scott
Students, we have reached that dreaded time of the year. The time of the year when we are up until all hours studying, drinking coffee to stay awake, and there are papers all over our room floors—it is officially midterm season. There is a lot of stress that comes with this time of year. We want to do well, but it seems impossible to balance regular schoolwork, jobs, clubs, activities, social life, and still find time to study. Take heart; you have found the article that will change your perspective on the midterm season! Instead of procrastinating, cramming, and ruining your sleep schedule, try these tips that will help you ace your midterms. Let’s get started!
It is vital that you get into the habit of writing things down. When you are in class, listening to your teacher, pay close attention to what he or she emphasizes most. If he/she is highlighting it, it must be very important, so you should write it down. Also, get into the habit of taking notes at home. When you are reading your textbook, jot down the essential points, diagrams, and charts. Studies have shown that writing things down helps you learn better, so start taking notes and see how this improves your studying habits!
This is a big one. Don’t just say, “Oh, I’ll study tomorrow, or whenever.” This “whenever” mentality causes you to procrastinate. If we are being honest, when we say we’re “going to study,” that actually means we’re going to do anything else that will distract us from studying. Instead, try crafting a study schedule. Make a schedule that says, “From 3-4 I will study all my Spanish vocab words” or “From 6-7 I will do my calculus problems.” Make a schedule that is specific and will tell you exactly when you will be studying what. On my study schedules, I like to include:
What subject the test is for.
What the test covers (i.e., what chapters).
The date that the test is due.
This will help you stay on track, and you will be surprised by how much you will accomplish!
This will make your life so much easier. Organize your notes and study guides by chapter, date, or whatever method is easiest for you to understand. When everything is neat and orderly, it makes you want to study more, and it is much easier to understand notes that are logical and organized than notes that are tossed astray. This will also help you tremendously with your study schedule. You can write down “From 2-4 I will review all the comprehension check questions from chapter 6” or “I will do practice sets 1-10 from 8-9.” Organize your notes, and watch how much easier studying becomes!
This tip has helped me with my studies so much! Try creating quizlets with your vocab words or creating practice tests for your study questions; whatever you need to learn, create a study guide for it. It lays out everything you need to know per chapter, and it is a great way to learn the information. This step requires a bit more effort, but that A+ will be worth it in the end!
I want to discuss mental health for a minute. We, as a school, and more as a world, have been through a lot this year. I know the last thing you need on top of news about the elections and the pandemic are 3-5 tests over everything you’ve learned in the past few months. Stop for a moment; take a breath. Your teachers understand what you are going through; your admin understands what you are going through; they are going through it too. This year has not been easy for anyone, but if we all take a moment to appreciate the contribution that everyone is making—teachers, administration, volunteers, and students, we can rest in the fact that we are not going through this alone. Everyone is rooting for you to succeed, especially me! Now take a deep breath, and go take on the world. I am praying for everyone! Jesus bless all of you!!<3