This article is very practical fo rhte highschool or college student. The strategy for studying last minute si so crucial to students these days cuz of busy lifestyles, and this sums up how to do it safely last minute, or even long term beforehand, the practice will work either way. The point about rest is a totally major note, most students try allnighters, not so necessary, if you at least get 5 hours of sleep it is better than none, wake up early then get some coffee after some sleep! Otherwise too much cofee and no sleep will get u serious stomach problems the next day, which can make u miss the final all together!

I think it is a very good idea to use your pen-ultimate break before the finals if available, or some time in advance, to make up some notes in advance. If you revise too early you will simply forget but if you write down in convenient note form everything you have learnt not only does the writing ensure you understand the content, but also ensures that you have the content ready. Not only does this save you time and ensure you understand the content (how can you write something down you dont understand? this method gets your understanding spot-on early- once you understand something you dont forget it) but it also takes away a lot of the stress. If you just have this shelf of unorganised books and folders it becomes a nightmare to revise effectively and this leads to putting off study and extra-stress.

There are loads of ways to make good notes; I often find that diagrams and oragnising all content into small sub-topics helps enormously.

Firstly, try to make your sessions as interactive as possible since we remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see demonstrated and 90% of what we teach to others. Therefore, you and your friends may find it useful to set topics to learn and present to each other.

Secondly, 2 hours before an exam or studying session eat something brain-stimulating (tuna sandwich is great). No sooner, no later as 2 hours after eating such food its effects culminate. Also, try to keep yourself well hydrated throughout exam as your brain-power drops significantly when you lose water due to stress.

Good luck.

as i deal real problems with organizing my studying everytime i am close to final exams, i believe that this article offers a nice guideline!!! i would just like to add the importance of sleeping enough during exams - if not your mind doesn't work properly:)

it is also very helpfull(but sometimes takes more time)to write down in our own words what we are studying!!!writing them down with few words helps us memorizing them easier!!!!

its very helpful, but i would have like to have seen the use of a timetable or similar. I personally dont need it as i already have a study plan, but for those who would be reading this for thier own use, an included timetable would have have made it more beneficial for the reader.

The 5 minute break might sound insignificant, but trust me it is not. Our minds especially today have a short attention span. If one studies for more than 30 minutes at a time, your concentration will just shoot way down. Think about it, that's why tv shows are 30 minutes long, because of peoples attention spans.

Just read books and notes doesn't help. You have to ask yourself questions or anybody else should ask you. So you see where still some problems are. Only reading is stupid. You look at the pages and read. You think you have understood it. With questions you see what you have learned. Searching for hard questions also help you because you are looking for things you should learn - so you study harder.

Thanks for the good explanation of the breaks. I was uncertain about that topic. Now I know I am on the right way. Good luck for everybody on the exams!

When studying, it has been proven very effective if you revise what you have studyied every time you are done with a section. Ask yourself questions, make sure you get it. If you not, most people have a tendency to just read and read, without actually GETTING it.

This has actually worked for me. I'm a junior in high school and my study habits and test grades really sucked before i read this article. This helped me alot and i remember more stuff now. Thanks for writing this!!

hello

brother, thanks for the tips, which you have given me in this article. I am glad that I joined cheathouse and lucky that I found your article. Now that you have given me guidelines, I will try my best and prepare myself for the finals and come on top of the class.

Thanks for your guideline

I was once told by a psychologist at NSW university that studying (cramming) the day before exams can often lead to factual conflict (eg, day mixups etc). Because you are trying to fill your head with information in a short period of time, your mind can confuse information, however making it seem like its correct and what you have read.. So just be careful in that respect.

If you have fellow clasmates you socialize with well then you might want to form a study group with them. This way if you couldnt find the information you needed to know, maybe they will have it. You can also make it a more exciting which can help you in turn memorize the material better.

i personally feel that the best way to study for a final or any test for that matter is to not over study. i like to take breaks after studying a section. i also like to rehearse what i study shortly after i study it. i also find it helpful to study right before bed time.

Personally I find that If I go swimming or take some other form of excercise before revising, I tend to take in what I am reading better.

It's definately a bad sign if you start studying and you have no idea what you're studying! I think it's most important to learn WHILE you go through each unit. If you understand what you're doing, you can decrease your study time significantly. So if you do try to learn as you go along, you can easily pinpoint a few questions you don't understand. Remember, don't just memorize, UNDERSTAND!

Overall though, the article is good and informative. Well done.

When studying for the finals, we need to understand what we are trying to study, no matter what, it is said that if we understand the notes/formulaes rather than memorising them, we would remember them even better.

I like the idea of having lots of 30 minute sessions. I myself find it easier to say study one final for 30 minutes, then take a short break and start a totally different course final study session afterwards. Then switching between the two forces me to jog my memory to keep facts fresh in my mind :P. As always, thanks for your perspectives, Good luck to everyone.

Here's a really good way for people to take notes. They explain very thuroughly, it's easy to do, and it makes sense.

Follow this link and they'll explain everything. It's free and legally reproduceable.

http://www.byu.edu/stlife/cdc/Learning_Strategies/study_skills/note-tak.htm

Lol, i dont quite know what a final is as i live in the uk, but i hope there the same as exams or else i have no idea what this article is about. LOL. Anyway... this article helped me out alot as i am going really important exams at the minute, these articles help people out so much and i think there should be loads more... hint hint!! Anyway... great article and very helpful!

Some form of physical activity always gets my brain ticking when I want to study. Eating food with sugar (glucose or lactose)when you're studying at night always keeps your energy level and hence, your attention span up. This is a very good article indeed!

Music is a highly effective way of studying. It is best to play classical or something soft to calm u down and help you relax. Studies have shown listening to anything like Mozart will increase a students learning ability. Music with words isnt the best choice because it may confuse you with the remembering of dates or places or might distract your thoughts if you start to sing along to the song.

I set goals for myself. I study for an hour and then break for about 5 minutes. If I am assigned a text to read, I set a goal to read 10 to 15 pages before breaking. Of course, this all depends on how difficult the reading is. Breaks are important, as they help you to soak in the information! Great Paper!

I don't know about you guys, but how many college students actually study for half an hour sessions with five minute breaks? Secondly, review is definitely a good thing. Refresh yourself while you're going through it, those five minute breaks could be better spent reviewing and seeing how the stuff applies to real life and not just theoretically, or ideally. Lastly, review the next day, and the next. The best idea someone gave me was to always create visual cues or images to associate with some fact or data you're supposed to memorize. I even use it for remembering people's names! Its a free-association type deal with pictures and theories.

This articles great. I'm normally one to cram a whole text book into my head the night b4 the big exam. I don't have any successful study techniques to share but I can say revise work thoroughly before the exam even if that means the inevitable (cramming) and don't stress out too much!

Good luck!

I'm terrible with systematic work and always end up cramming overnight just before the exams. Longest session was about 30 hours non-stop. Seems to work for me but my laziness does scare me. There's always a dilemma whether getting down to it is better or whether I'd better get some rest. I just can't do things bit by bit and no amount of advice ever helped...

This is a good way to study for finals, yes it works but I think if you truly want to know your material you should just go over every section, and look for little details that you might have not picked up the first time.

I agree within this study but I think there is no need for the last time studying. I tried to last week studying in my undregraduate life. But it is hard and unhealthly also it is not enough for some hard lessons. Some lessons need comments, critizes and it is create your way of thinking direction of that course. I prefer the orderly follow your courses and be an active student within the course time. Use the first table within the class. That time you will be close your teacher and there is no way for the disperse your class.There is no way to think anaother thing or struggle another thing. And finnaly you have to write oderly your courses notes. Write a A4 papers within the class and when you go home write them to the notebook. This will be obtain that you will be repetition your notes and of course your courses. And each weekend read your notebooks for each courses one time. There is no need study for last week of final exam period. When your friends study hard you will be relax.

This article can be proved correct. many studies have shown that a touch of low music can help open the brain. Also Repitition is key. Repeating what im reading or learning often helps. Although i am a procrastinator, research is effective, its good to know that the rest of the world knows what you are learning!! good work!

Just like the "Four Memory Tricks" this is an exellent essay, written with great taste and perfect discriptive format. It is a very good idea to study at least 2 weeks in advance, but to also study for short periods at a time, collection info on chapters and worksheets that were given out at the start of the school year. Well written. Emargo

also use the socratic method when studying--teachers use it all the time. Pretend you are making up questions for the test (this is best used for history/social studies, english, etc) and see how you would answer them.

thanks alot for this article

im sure it's really gonna help me on this yr's finals!

keep up the good work!!

Taking good notes is key as you mention. If there are sections that you need help on, then get them in enough time to organize your new understanding into your notes. Rewriting and reorganizing helps too. Well, it does for me. I usually look over my notes from the last class before we begin the next class. It refreshes what you learned and is also a little way of studying while not really thinking you are studying. If anyone is like me, I hate the thought of studying at one time. I like to study a little bit at a time (as long as I know when the test is and I plan accordingly) and adding more as you go. So by the time it is really time to study like a night or 2 before the test, you would only have to review.

Great idea for an article.

When studying it is always best to study from the get-go. That way there will be less weight or none at all when studying for the finals. It is always best to study every other day, studying one day and leaving the next for resting the brain and letting the information sink in.

okay.i don't agree the way people arguing that sudying is really tired,because at the final year that how it is.Although itis stressful,but later on they will get a better job and better paid.for those who are arguing about it they should think about it.

I dislike the way to revise everything two weeks before the finals despite that it sometimes works for someone. First of all, you will feel extremely tired. Secondly you will easily forget most of the information you memorised immediately after the exam. What I want to suggest is that try to make a note on every particular topic right after you learned it.Here is an example: imagine we are doing geometric progressions. On the first page of your notebook, writedown the definition of GP, and the rules on GP. Then based on your own understanding, choose some examples from your textbook and some other good exercises from your other resources, write down the questions and solutions on your notebook. It's all done now. whenever you are free, you can take out your very "private" notebook and have a look. It is even more useful than your textbook because it is based on your own need!!!

i totally agree with one of the comments further down. your article gives good ideas for ways that you can try. but in the end, this isnt working for everyone. especially your 'session-break..." concept. i, for example, learn better if i learn 7 hours straight - but that not on the day before the exam but way earlier... it's true that this is really tyring, but it is even harder to make yourself concentrate again and again and again on what you are studying than just stay in that status for a while.

The article was great it was a real success! i have some hard times waiting till the last minute to staying for a test or quiz but sence i read this im going to make more time for myself and study harder and longer. i have been doing research of my own to tell you people at cheathouse but i dont know if you may like it or something. But i may put it out there or i just may use it for somethign else. The article help a lot. I bet it help a lot of people too. Well i hope that your article is shared on to others.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER BUT BY YOU SEE FIT!!!

For those of you that are like me, who find themselves very poorly organized and with little motivation when it comes crunch time to start studying, it helps to study in small to large groups. Not only does this help brainstorm and offer information that you're limited notes provide, but this actually forces you to study, be it by socializing about a certain topic or by browsing through one another's notes. When it comes time for finals for say, AP English or History, our whole class throws a study party and we all help one another out. Make sure you select your group wisely. Nothing will be accomplished if you manage to assemble a bunch of leeching slackers. I, personally find this group method highly effective, especially for english and social studies. It may be hard to study a subject like math in this manner. Good luck!

this article has helped me very much in preparing for my exams.earlier i was not preparing for exams in a systematic manner.i have learnt a lot from this article.

Just One pointless thing to say:

Damn straight.

These are some awesome ideas for studying. I often find it very difficult to sit for hours and study, so taking breaks works really well.

Who ever is taking their make sure you this it is good way to get you going. For sure I am using this because i need to pass very badly. But I like the way he done it putting what ever you need in order helps alot. Thanks man I might just get a little closer this year. Later.

This article is one of thee best articles I have seen. whoever wrote this is a natural.

When I study for finals I get out all of my notes, and my books...and I look through them to make sure I haven't missed anything...then I go over and over them to make sure I understand what is being done...like two weeks before finals is when I start to do this..because it kind of takes me awhile

every single person has a different way to study and learn the material. i am a junior in college, i've had to study many times and also many ways to be able to see which strategy works the best. i've come to the conclusion that studying in a quiet environment does not help me at all. i need some noise so i turn on the tv. i read and re-read the notes and i highlight what i need to go over again. It also helps to write down information as you are reading a text. thats what i do, anyway and it sure does help!!

Also when studying it is very helpful to write down what you are studying this helps you to remember the information

this article is a great one. it actually made me think of starting studying fot my finals. it has a good breakdown, which makes it easy to follow though.

The first is offered by the quality university Cambridge (yeah) on how to effectively revise:

http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/exams.html

On a funnier note, the second one offers revision tips for Parents:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/article_secondary_11022002.shtml

But shouldn't we all be our own parents anyway?

Useful article!!! A small suggestion for those who are like me, and cannot study if there are too many people around... Even though night studying can be harder, still if you hate people walking up and down your apartment or corridor or the phone ringing, try sleeping during the day (it will not mess up your life if you do it only for the exams), and studying at night. The environment is much more quiet, and you can focus properly. Belive me, I managed to almost finish my university with great marks!!!

As appealing as this article sounds, it is all very inaccurate. Starting off with 30 min of studying may work for middle schoolers, try starting of with 30 min of study sessions in high school or even university. This will help you get a big fat 0 on that exam. When studying for a final exam i have learned through taking both psycology and anthropology that the heaviest load of studying should be the beginning time of studying. This contradicts your article. Also some people may have different study habits. For instance i have many friends who are capable of cramming for ten to twelve hours straight and still be able to retain a 'A' on an exam.

In conlucion I thing more research should have went into your article apposed to your personal experinces and beleifs. As correct as they may sound they do not apply to the 100% of the student population!!!

I agree with many of the comments here.

My teachers keep telling me to come to class prepared - read the according chatper in the book. Once I followed that advice I realized that the things the teacher said in class made more sense and I had to study less hard for the exam (and still I don't go to class prepared).

I also have to mention that American students really shouldn't be complaining about their teachers. They are one of the nicest I ever had. They are so easy on them. I went to school in Germany and we have NO multiple choice or true false questions. EVERY SINGLE test or quiz has essay questions and EVERY exam is cumulative.

I really like going to school here. I have a GPA of 3.8 - it is so easy!

this is a very good essay, and i love the way you asked us to learn like 2 weeks before the exam. cos you know, in my country there's an allegory that says:

learn a lot and forget a lot. learn a little and forget a little. don't learn so you don't forget anything.

^_^

This article has some good ideas on studing if one only applies the ideas. Some additional thoughts to this article are to organize your notes by date and test material, to rewrite your notes when studing, and to make flash cards. Good article to help start good study habits.

this is awesome how the author breaks it down step by step,and lists specific ideas,this is so cool i might actually use it to review for my finals, two thumbs up to the author!

Go to Dunkin Donut get Coffee. Stand outside in fresh air. take a deep breath. Get to gether with your group. If is it History Study night before and go over stuff. Go over point by point and explain to your group one by one. If it is math study with brightest kid in class. Remember the formula and go over class notes. best way because always profs gives similar problems. this all always works for me. If you study study 100 % or don't study.

Thanks to this article! I shall really start by organizing my notes. I am not an organized person and I find it difficult to study with no goal in mind. Maybe, one should set goals as to what you want to finish by the end of the day. I personally feel that cramming everything just before an exam is too much for a brain to absorb and my advice is to take baby steps each day and to consciously revise and review what you have learn. Last but not least, be daring to ask! You will learn more this way.

this has helped me alot of it.

people should studying hard for their final year.

this helped me a little

but it was still good

I have found that it is best not to cram but to start studying a few weeks in advance to prevent screwing your facts up.

I know most of the info from the article. All of our teachers/profesors encourage early studying and trips to the library so you can concentrate on your work. All of the other tips were excellent especially the breaks, but 5min breaks for every 30min is a little to much.

altough you recomend to listen to quiet music, i personally found out that loud music works too. it's helpful and it doesn't appear as a distraction all the time. it gives some kind of relaxation to me. :)

Excelent Articel.

I was taught to "Eat the Elephant"

you wouldnt of course eat the elephant in one go you would look at the it study it and then decided which bits you wanted to eat first, second, Etc. The same with revising look at the whole subject so look at it and decided which bits you need to study first, second etc.

Actually,I didn't like those things like preparing for exams.Because I don't think it's a proper way for studying.But your words bring me much information more than preparing for finals.You tell me how to organize my daily hours in the process of studying.

Thanks a lot!

Very good information. It will really help people that need to brush up on their studt skills.

Very informative on conducting a study sesion and how to cram for those finals. I do most of these things but where did you get yor research and ionformation? Other than that, bravo and once again another great article

In the get to work section of your article i didn't like the part about, "the more confident you feel about the subject the less time you should study" part.(sorry if i did wording all wrong!

I think that if you feel confident about something you should work harder on it and gain better skills.

P.S i like listening to the a.c. in my room while i study, heheheh

P.s.s. hope i helped!!!

I've been told tons of things about studying before, like writing down what you think so you can remember it, and other things like that. Those tips work, and I did killer on my finals (had to wait to respond to find out my grades ;p).

-Eri

i have read your articel and can honestly say it works can i ask whgere you got these tips and where can i find more like this?

Who ever the writer of this article is, thank you, your article methods are really going to help me and many others like me.

It is always good to make sure you have eaten because good food and nutrients will help your brain to function.A thing to do that might make studying your notes easier, is to take a highlighter and highlight all of the important things so that they will stick out and yuo will know exactly what to study. If you are going to take a test make sure that you get a good nights rest and go to the bathroom before your test so that you wont have any problems while taking the test. Good Luck!

Alright well thats an ok explanation but I dont think anyone needs 30 days to study unless your studying for oyur diploma or SAT's, still good job on the article

when studying for finals no mini thins but study only for 30 min with a group tahts in your class then take a 20 min break and go back at it always works for me

i have exams coming up next week and i am really stuggling with studying time because i have so many projects due at the same time. so some ideas on more effient studying techniques really helped.

I never get to study all the program for the examination, its impossible. Or if I do so its because I stood up all night studing

this artical is really good.however their is some error in there.

This essay could've been longer. Persoanlly, I don't think this is that much of an issue. Studying for finals is a lot like studying for any other test, except that there are a lot coming at you at once. I find myself in a situation similar to finals several times throughout the year. The only difference is that finals hold more weight on your grade. The only advice you need is don't let it get to you.