What Is Test Anxiety? Every student experiences some anxiety preparing for and taking exams. It is a normal response to any performance-related activity. If anxiety is hindering your performance on exams, there are steps you can take to help alleviate your difficulties. Stress is normal, but it can also become limiting. Stressful situations such as…
Category: Preparing for classes
Taking the Exam
On the Day of the Exam Eat healthy meals. Eat healthy foods that will not leave you with a sugar crash in the middle of the test. Eat something you find comforting to relax, and eat it in moderation. Do something to relax before the exam. Listen to music, go for a walk, play a video game,…
Final Preparation for the Exam
Get ready to study. Set a study schedule. Schedule adequate time to prepare for this exam. If you developed a schedule for your semester, you should have these sessions already scheduled. Do not hesitate to modify your schedule if you feel that you did not give yourself enough time. Establish an objective for each study…
Prepare for Exams Continuously throughout the Semester
The most effective strategy for preparing for exams is sustained and cumulative review throughout the semester. Each week, actively review new material in short study sessions. After you are confident that you understand the new material, set it aside and go on to something else. The next day, test yourself to see how much you…
Effectively Using Your Notes
Now that you have the notes, what do you do with them? The key to remembering new material is to actively interact with it and manipulate it. It should be an ongoing effort starting as soon as you leave class and continuing until the end of the course. When and how to review your…
Developing Your Personal Note Taking Style
There are two functions of note-taking. Aid Concentration The first function of note-taking is to help you concentrate on the information presented so that you will cognitively encode the material into your working memory. Simply ‘writing it down’ does not encode the information; you must do more. Information Storage The second function of note-taking is…
Preparing for Class
Create a structure for every class meeting. Material covered in a lecture will make more sense to you if you can make connections to the structure and patterns of the course as you take notes. To prepare for class, follow these strategies. At the very least, prepare for class by reading the assigned readings and…
How Do You Learn?
You must understand how you learn. First, take some time to understand how you assimilate new information into your long-term memory. Then take the following learning style assessment to determine what type of learner you are and how best to adapt your studying habits to most effectively learn and understand the material. Then take one…
Making the Most of Your Time
Each semester, you will spend a lot of time in class or studying so you owe it to yourself to make the most efficient use of your time. After selecting your courses, the next step is to develop a plan for how you are going manage your time to perform to the best of your…
Managing Your Time
How can I plan to get everything done? Develop a plan for how you are going manage your time to perform to the best of your ability in each course. Reflect on the demands of the entire term, not just the next exam, to achieve the success for which you strive. Understand the demands…