Your exam dates are looming in the future, filling you with anxiety and dread. Your books and notes remain untouched in the corner of your room because you don’t even know where to begin studying.
You watch the days tick by, drawing you closer and closer to the day that will test your academic prowess. But preparing for the Leaving Cert shouldn’t be that difficult, and certainly does not have to be a nerve-wracking experience. With a few study tips, you can prepare for your exams efficiently.
1. Start early.
Habitual procrastinators, this is not the time to leave things to the last minute. One of the best ways to fully prepare for an exam with the least amount of stress is to simply begin studying early. The Leaving Cert covers a lot of information, and you do not want to try to cram all that information into your head because very little will stick. Instead, start studying in small doses up to a month before the exam and you’ll find everything easier to swallow
2. Review often.
As you study, be sure to quickly review what you studied the night or week before to keep that information fresh in your mind. Otherwise, by the time you are done preparing, you will remember everything you prepared that week, but forget all of the information you studied earlier that month.
3. Read your notes out loud.
If you make flash cards, read your flash cards out loud. Hearing the information is a great way to boost your memory, especially if you keep hearing the same information over and over again. It is the same principle that allows you to learn the words of a song after you have heard it several times.
4. Rewrite key bits of information.
If you are struggling to remember a math formula, write it down repeatedly. The more you do something, the more your body becomes accustomed to how it is supposed to perform in that situation. After a while, you will need to think about it less as the movements become almost automatic, just like how you do not need to think about the movements involved in brushing your teeth.
5. Study with a friend and discuss the material with him or her.
Talking about the information and hearing others talk about it helps to cement the information into your mind. Also, if there is anything with which you are unclear, your friend may be able to explain it in a way that you understand. Just be sure to stick to studying instead of socializing.
This post was contributed by Hannah Watson, who writes about the online college classes. She welcomes your feedback at HannahWatson84@ yahoo.com
Nice tips 🙂