Your mind is racing. Your hands are sweating. You’re bouncing your leg nervously.
Do these feelings sound familiar? If so, you might be one of the millions of people who suffer from exam anxiety.
While it’s hard to completely get rid of anxiety before an exam, preparing for the exam thoroughly will help you feel slightly more relaxed. Before you can start learning all the facts for an upcoming test, you should learn about how to study for an exam.
In today’s busy world, it’s harder than ever to find time to focus while studying. Your phone and computer are filled with distractions, and those distractions can mess with your ability to concentrate.
Luckily, there are a few strategies that you can use to improve your focus.
The article below contains a list of exam preparation strategies that you can use for any exam.
These exam preparation tips will help whether you’re studying for a final exam, a college preparation test, or a professional test. Continue reading to learn how to study for yo
Study With Others
Have you ever heard that the best way to learn about a topic is to teach it to others? If you can teach someone else about the content you’re studying, you’ll feel more confident that you understand the information.
Next time you’re planning out a study session, see if any of your friends or classmates want to help you study.
Study partners can help you study flashcards or practice for exams, but they can also act as students for you to practice teaching. See if you can explain your exam topic to them in a way that makes them understand the information.
If you can successfully teach your study partner about the topic at hand, you’ll know that you’re ready for your exam.
Put Your Phone on Do Not Disturb
No matter how hard you try to focus while studying, it’s going to be difficult to concentrate if your phone is constantly buzzing.
It’s hard for your mind to retain information when your focus is constantly being interrupted. Putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode is sometimes a better idea than turning it off.
When your phone is turned off, your mind might wonder if someone is trying to contact you in an emergency. If you put it in Do Not Disturb, you’ll only receive a notification if somebody calls you.
Give this a try next time you’re sitting down to study.
Create a Presentation
If you normally study by reading information and taking notes, it might be time to take your studying a step further.
Once you’ve gathered all your notes, open up Google Slides or similar software and try to create a presentation. Pretend that you’re going to be presenting the information to someone completely unfamiliar with the topic.
Some people use this approach when studying the NAPLAN tests. Are you wondering, what are the NAPLAN tests? You can click the link for more information.
Organize Your Study Session
Studying can be demoralizing if you spend hours at your desk without feeling like you’ve made any progress. That’s why it’s important to plan out your study session with tasks, objectives, and accomplishments.
Each time you complete one of your study objectives, take a break and reward yourself with a snack or beverage. Feeling a sense of accomplishment will help you keep studying longer than you would if you felt like you were spinning your wheels.
Take Handwritten Notes
Did you know that writing activates a different part of your brain than typing does? Studies have shown that students who write or draw their notes tend to retain information.
While it may be tempting to lean on the convenience of a keyboard, it’s not the best way to learn. Writing forces you to slow down and think about the words you’re jotting down on the page.
The study session might take longer than it would if you were typing all your notes, but you’ll learn more information than you would if you were using a computer keyboard.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique is a proven strategy for studying efficiently. To use the Pomodoro technique effectively, you’ll need a timer.
You can start by setting the timer for 25 minutes. Start studying, and when the timer is up, take a break.
When you take the break, remember to set a second timer for five minutes. You’ll then repeat this process three more times.
After the fourth five-minute break, set the timer for 20-minutes and take a longer break before you start studying for another 25 minutes.
The Pomodoro technique is designed to give your brain breaks to retain information. It’s easier to focus during each 25-minute study session because you know that you have a break coming up.
How to Study for an Exam Like a Pro
Now that you know how to study for an exam and ace it, you’re ready to use these techniques during your next study session. It’s always worthwhile to develop a plan for studying instead of winging it.
You’ll feel more engaged during your study session, and you’ll retain more information as a result. If you’re interested in learning more about the best study techniques, be sure to check out all the other articles going live on this website each week.