It’s that time of year again. Third term is well underway. The amount of work is overwhelming. Finals and APs are approaching. Summer vacation is so close yet so far.
But never fear, the Sentinel Sun’s got you with the 3rd installment in our “Study Hacks” series: End-of-year studying.
1. Time management of study blocks
It’s important to note that too-long study blocks reduce efficiency and too-short study blocks reduce effectiveness. Generally, an optimal study block is one hour, then take a 5 minute break.
2. Designated “study area” and “leisure area”
Make a space in another room for your phone or other distractions instead of leaving them beside your textbooks. You can subconsciously associate that particular area for leisure, while your study area remains an area purely for studying, thereby increasing productivity.
3. Study multiple, not singular, subjects each day
With this strategy, we won’t get similar ideas mixed up by overloading the brain with multiple subjects; it’s hard to mix up english and math, right? Especially for end-of-term testing in virtually all subjects, it’ll be easier and more efficient to tackle them this way.
4. Take advantage of little pockets of time
Whether it’s planning your english essay on the way to school, or reviewing biology vocabulary on the bus home, making use of these little pockets of time can go a long way.
5. Have a positive mindset
Cramming tends to be inevitable for end-of-year studying, so it’s really easy to to be become overwhelmed by work you don’t even think you can finish. One way to combat the panic is to have a positive and self-encouraging mindset. One thing at a time.
6. Move around
When you take a break, move around by getting food, doing jumping jacks, stretching, or taking a walk.
7. Stop studying… the night before
It’s hard to retain information at that point. A better option for the night before is flashcards--they might help you answer a few more questions correctly and are less stressful than say, rereading the textbook again.
8. Remind yourself of larger goals than the test itself
It’s hard to stay motivated at the end of the term and the year and remembering a more meaningful goal than getting a grade can motivate studying!
YOU GOT THIS!
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