Many of you know that I still have a child in college. (Go Wolverines!) And, given his course load, his extracurricular activities, and the fact that he is just out of teenager, study habits are still a topic of discussion. What is the best way to study? (I will leave my own habits on the back burner; I am the anomaly.)
The first rule is to develop a standard sleep routine- and KEEP TO IT! Waking up earlier can leave you in the middle of sleep cycle that will make it impossible to maintain peak performance. The second thing to remember is cramming is bad. But, that does not mean reviewing the toughest material (that you have already studied) the night before the exam will help you coalesce the facts in your memory. But, all-nighters are NOT the way to success- the data shows that you will have impaired memory and reasoning for up to four days after such a session. Obviously, not the best way to face an exam.
Herein lies the next rule. The one where I have to exclaim- do as I say, not as I do. Study. No TV. No radio. No eMail. Keep the distractions to a minimum so your brain can soak up the facts you hope it does.
Reviewing your notes is good. But testing yourself is better. By testing yourself, you are better able to discern the psychological nature of the exam and can easily determine which portions of the material you have already mastered- and, more importantly, which items need additional study.
Believe it or not, Kellogg’s is not lying in its commercials. Eating a nutritious breakfast that is balanced and slower to digest will provide a constant stream of glucose to your brain. So that you can perform at peak condition for hours. High carbohydrates, high fiber food (oatmeal, bran) are among the better choices.
Given all these facts, you will enter the exam confident. And, confidence helps you perform better- all things being equal. Anxiety decreases our ability to perfom.
Ok. Put your pencils down and wait for my signal. You are ready for your test…
Hilarious…I think I most likely broke every one of your guidelines and still managed a 3.8 average in graduate school. Oh, except the one of no distractions that YOU copped to breaking. I turned everything off including music to study. I am a night person. I accomplish and absorb more at night. Rewriting my notes, the kinesthetic learning process, and using cue cards to test myself worked for me. I was not the best at long term retention so starting too far in advance was actually a waste of time unless it was writing essays. Perhaps students need to start with these guidelines and then design what works best for them. And if they experiment with one approach and the outcome is poor, then they need to adjust and do something different the next time. Love the post, Roy…because these pointers apply to any project in life, not just exams.
OK, Tambre, as I warned- we each have our own style. For example, I can’t abide quiet. Period.
Glad you liked the post. And, thrilled you did so well in grad school and knocked a homerun (from what I read) with your program!
Roy
I love the way you say do as I say not as I do. Listen to the body needs and keep the goal in mind that you want to learn or at least graduate.
Thanks, Roberta.
I have NEVER liked it quiet. My brain equates that with death…
Roy
These are some good tips for learning, Roy. I am a morning person so I would much rather get up early to study than stay up late. Many times I go to bed in the evening and start reading a book on my Kindle. I always doze off and I wake up when the Kindle hits the floor.
I like it quiet when I am trying to concentrate. I do not like music or noise in the background. I think I am an auditory learner and any noise is very distracting.
Actually, Janette, late nights before the exam is exactly what I said are counterproductive.
We need to spend about a week BEFORE the exam maintaining a routine (longer would be better), so that our body responds to stimuli we expect to have.
I am so glad you liked the post. The goal is to have everyone achieve success on exams.
Roy
Oh Roy if it were only that easy! Our son doesn’t get enough sleep, his eating habits are not great but he does get a lot of exercise (gym, sports, skateboarding). But the kid has a brain that is amazing. He has always been in the 96% and above for math. So now, we can only hope he takes that direction (with a lot of prodding from us, his parents) but when it is all said and done, it is his decision. We will be there to help in any way we can and I certainly will slip a printed copy of your post in an envelope and mail it tomorrow!! Thanks for the awesome tips.
Lynn, I never said it was easy.
But, developing a system is the biggest part of the battle. Just like developing a balanced diet- given our willy-nilly response to clients’ needs- maintaining this take effort.
So, does preparing for an exam.
I, too, have dealt (and still do) with this issue with my children. And, to be honest, when I need to become certified in yet another field, it’s the process with which I start.
Thanks for comments that make it clear that we all have our own issues- and this process is just the start. We must adapt it to our own personal circumstances.
Roy
I had the worst study habits and don’t know how I got through university. =P I used to study while having hockey games on. It became a bad habit. =P But I love how Tambre links this to all of life. Really, I want to be on my A game all the time, especially because I’m constantly learning.
My favorite tip is about sleep. I think I really underestimate how much poor sleep can affect my energy and my day! Thanks for the tips, Roy!
Glad to oblige, Samantha.
And, these are GENERAL rules. That means that they apply to most- for most situations. You may be one of the exceptions.
Hi Roy,
I wasn’t your best student in the world. Didn’t follow some of your suggestions, although my parents were very strick about TV rules. We were not allowed to have the TV on during school nights after dinner. But with 9 kids, and chaos all around us, it was hard sometimes to study. Guess I would say there were to many distractions, at least that was my excuse.
Thanks for these tips. I bet your college son is taking these tips and implementing them too, huh?
Cindy
Cindy:
We all need these tips- because whether we are 5 or 50, the odds are, given today’s economy, we have exams and tests to take.
And, these are the basics. We adjust them to our own temperaments and proclivities. And, yes, ALL of my kids start with these.
Thanks for the comments.
Roy
Hey Roy,
Big virtual hug coming across! One of the topics very close to my heart. When I was a student (I believe I did well with what I had 😉 I stuck to many of these. These suggestions were passed on to me by my dad. We used to get up for Fajr prayers and that being a norm, were able to work really well in the mornings. But given that, I worked better at nights too. I caught up on the sleep during the afternoons. But the day before the exams, had us going to bed by 10! And that drew gasps of surprise from my peers.
Also, my dad was the cereal and eggs for breakfast person and I had just the morning person mother to lay that all for me! 🙂 And that habit continued till college.
Though I fell short on the confidence and that is a whole another story. But yes, sleep before the test… always works wonders. Even if you don’t know the answers, you are fresh enough to use your relaxed brains and work something out! 🙂
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Looks like your family got you read, Hajra!
Thanks for sharing that information.
Roy
I definitely agree with getting enough sleep. I have seen people crumple in the face of difficult tests after pulling an all-night study session. I always tried to study in 1 to 2 hour sessions over a few days, but was sure to give myself time to get enough sleep.
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Great advice, Kristen! I’m with you…