It is about that time in the semester when midterms are approaching. Many students start to feel overwhelmed and just plain stressed out. However, it is important to realize that there are plenty of ways to make exams less stressful.
When I was a Freshman I took an introductory biology class that was extremely overwhelming. I made sure that I attended all of my lectures and kept up with my assigned readings. When it came time for the first exam I started studying two weeks before by making hundreds of flashcards and quizzing myself. The night before the exam I felt really ready and confident that I would do well. However, when I sat down to take the test it felt as if I had never studied. I ended up getting a D+ on my first test, which was a grade I had never received before. I realized that using flashcards was not the best way to study and it was time for me to develop some new skills to help me succeed on my next two biology exams as well as all of my other future tests at UConn.
When it came time for the second exam I reread my syllabus for the class and made note of what topics had been covered so far. Everyday after class I would reread my lecture notes and rewrite them. Then I would highlight key points and terms. As I did this I also wrote down any questions I had about concepts that didn't make sense. Each week I would take whatever questions I came up with and bring them to my professor's office hours for further clarification. By doing this, I was able to expose myself to the material and prevent any problems from coming up the night before the exam.
Another thing I learned to do before a test from this experience is to make a simple study schedule. I take out my regular weekly schedule with all of my classes and commitments on it and look for free time. During the blocks of free time I schedule time to study as well as a goal of what I want to get accomplished. Normally, I like to take one to two hour time blocks to study a chapter of something. Therefore, if I have an exam that covers four chapters I block out five days to study. This way I study one chapter per day and on the night before the exam I only have to review what I have already studied.
Now some people may think that preparing for an exam and eliminating stress stops at this point. However, there are a few more tips that helped me reduce stress during my biology exams and all other exams. I make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before and eat breakfast the morning of the test. Finally, while taking a test I find it very helpful to read the directions slowly and budget my time. Whenever there is a question I am unsure of I mark it and move on. This way I do not waste time stressing about the fact that I may not know the answer. I then go back to whatever questions have been marked once I am done answering the rest of the questions.
It is normal to feel a little stressed when an exam is approaching, but these tips can help eliminate the unnecessary stress and make the studying process a bit easier. I know that I have used these tips for the last three and a half years I have been at UConn and they have helped me so much, and hopefully they will help you too!
When I was a Freshman I took an introductory biology class that was extremely overwhelming. I made sure that I attended all of my lectures and kept up with my assigned readings. When it came time for the first exam I started studying two weeks before by making hundreds of flashcards and quizzing myself. The night before the exam I felt really ready and confident that I would do well. However, when I sat down to take the test it felt as if I had never studied. I ended up getting a D+ on my first test, which was a grade I had never received before. I realized that using flashcards was not the best way to study and it was time for me to develop some new skills to help me succeed on my next two biology exams as well as all of my other future tests at UConn.
When it came time for the second exam I reread my syllabus for the class and made note of what topics had been covered so far. Everyday after class I would reread my lecture notes and rewrite them. Then I would highlight key points and terms. As I did this I also wrote down any questions I had about concepts that didn't make sense. Each week I would take whatever questions I came up with and bring them to my professor's office hours for further clarification. By doing this, I was able to expose myself to the material and prevent any problems from coming up the night before the exam.
Another thing I learned to do before a test from this experience is to make a simple study schedule. I take out my regular weekly schedule with all of my classes and commitments on it and look for free time. During the blocks of free time I schedule time to study as well as a goal of what I want to get accomplished. Normally, I like to take one to two hour time blocks to study a chapter of something. Therefore, if I have an exam that covers four chapters I block out five days to study. This way I study one chapter per day and on the night before the exam I only have to review what I have already studied.
Now some people may think that preparing for an exam and eliminating stress stops at this point. However, there are a few more tips that helped me reduce stress during my biology exams and all other exams. I make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before and eat breakfast the morning of the test. Finally, while taking a test I find it very helpful to read the directions slowly and budget my time. Whenever there is a question I am unsure of I mark it and move on. This way I do not waste time stressing about the fact that I may not know the answer. I then go back to whatever questions have been marked once I am done answering the rest of the questions.
It is normal to feel a little stressed when an exam is approaching, but these tips can help eliminate the unnecessary stress and make the studying process a bit easier. I know that I have used these tips for the last three and a half years I have been at UConn and they have helped me so much, and hopefully they will help you too!
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