Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Before you start studying
• Part 2 of 3: While studying
• Part 3 of 3: After studying
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Have you ever been in a situation where you discovered before an important test the night before that you had never opened that subject's textbook or just skimmed through your notes? We've all been there before. However, recent research shows that sleep deprivation from nighttime blocks can cause you to perform moderately, and all your efforts have been in vain. But sometimes it is inevitable. You have a test in the first hour of the next day and there is no alternative. Keep reading for some great tips on how to stay calm and save your average grade!

To step

Part 1 of 3: Before you start studying

1. Find a pleasant and quiet place to study. Make sure it is not too comfortable (such as in bed or curled up on the couch) as you risk falling asleep again.
   • Find or create a place that is well lit. When it's too dark around you, your body thinks, "Hey, it's time to do some pits!" Fool your body by turning on enough lights to simulate daylight.
   • Remove all distractions. This means that you put the phone away. You may have spent the entire semester texting in class, and this is your punishment. Turn off the device. And while you're at it, stay away from your iPad and laptop (unless you have study material on your computer) - Facebook, fantasy baseball and Pinterest are not in your dictionary right now.
2. Eat healthy foods. You may think you're going to run great on 16 cans of cold Red Bull and five Snickers, but unfortunately, that won't be the case. Making yourself hyper with a caffeine overdose may keep you awake now, but you will eventually collapse all the more - just when you actually have to do the test.
   • Eat fruits. An apple to keep you focused and awake is more useful than caffeine. It contains more natural sugars and it is nutritious. You should consider nutrition in terms of energy in this case.
   • When you are full, you don't have to think about food, which is another reason why you will be able to stay focused.
3. Set an alarm. Okay, and to make matters worse, you wake up in a pile of cores with ink on your cheek, because you fell asleep going through your chemistry notes. But you have remembered to set your alarm, so that you don't miss the test!
   • So do this now, before you accidentally fall asleep. You will be grateful that you did it.

Part 2 of 3: While studying

1. Stay calm. This can be difficult at times, but just take a deep breath and try to organize your thoughts! Think about where you put all those textbooks, and get some pens and paper. Markers and flash cards are also a good idea.
   • If you still have the syllabus, that's great. Use this as a framework. The topics mentioned more than once will probably become part of the test.
2. Start at the beginning; don't focus on the small details though! Focus on the bigger picture - mark the important facts that you expect to be asked during the test. Don't forget to take a good look at the concepts! Knowing what a word means obviously helps in understanding the material.
   • Read the summaries for each chapter (it usually highlights the important points). If there is no summary chapter, review the text and write down the important ideas.
3. State the priorities. This is it main part of the blocks. You have very little time - use it as efficiently as possible. Get down to the small details and study only what you think is worthwhile, as it may be asked during the test.
   • Concentrate on the main ideas and learn the most important formulas. For now, skip the details first and return to them only when you find that you still have time to do so after learning the most important points.
   • Don't try to learn everything; focus on things that will earn you the most points during the exam. If your professor has indicated that an essay makes up 75% of your grade, it is best to prepare for it and skip the multiple choice questions.
4. Write down important info or learn short pieces out loud. This helps your brain process the material better. If you're just reading through your textbooks or notes, you probably won't remember much!
   • If you are lucky enough to have a roommate with sleeping problems, ask them to help you. Ask him to listen while you recite certain concepts. Telling information to others is a guaranteed way to make sure you understand the ins and outs of the concepts.
5. Make flash cards. This is a great way to test yourself, and it also helps process the information by writing down the flash cards and reading them out loud! Use different colors for different topics or chapters.
   • Look for parallels, metaphors, and other mnemonics to help you understand complex concepts. Write down the key words of your metaphor to stimulate your memory while studying.
   • Write down the information in the form of reminders. Rich Americans Get Big Chunks of Roast Beef at Family Parties - Empire, Division, Class, Order, Family, Sex, Kind, and Race (as a random example).
6. Take breaks. It may not seem intuitive, but your brain will more be able to process information if you do not demand too much of it. Studying in bursts - aka stomping - is inefficient and clogs up your brain, so it can process less information. Although you will go through less material, you will be able to remember more of it.
   • Get up after about 45 minutes. Do some stretching and walk around. Have a drink and a snack, and resume after 5 to 10 minutes. You should now be a bit fresher and ready for action.

Part 3 of 3: After studying

1. Go to sleep. If you stay up all night, you will be so tired the next morning that chances are you won't remember anything! Get up 30-45 minutes earlier the next morning and review the highlighted sections in your notes and textbooks. If you made flash cards, go through them again.
   • Try to get at least 3 hours of sleep; that's a full sleep cycle. Waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle while not yet fully rested will be detrimental to your test score.
2. Eat your breakfast. You've heard from everyone that a nutritious meal before an exam will help you use your brain better. Stick to a fairly normal breakfast (you don't want to get sick) and don't eat anything that is too heavy if you're nervous.
   • Consider this: The more you eat before the test, the less you will be concerned with how hungry you are, so help yourself by just eating something before your test so you can at least stay focused.
3. Get take a deep breath. Go through the information a few times on the way to school. Chances are that if you have paid attention during the lessons and were able to study well the night before, you will be fine.
4. Ask a fellow student to test you before class starts. You still have 5 minutes before the teacher arrives, so take advantage of that! Take turns asking each other a question. Start with the points you know least well - that way, they will be fresh in your mind.
   • Don't do this during the test - getting caught cheating will result in a much worse score than you would otherwise get.

Tips

• Don't try to memorize everything word for word. Try to understand what you are reading and make sure you know the main points.
• Make sure you get enough fluids! Water is good for your body and will nourish you while you block.
• If you are tired from all the night studying, take a shower (preferably with cold water); that will help you feel fresher and more awake.
• If you have very little time, it is not necessary to really study everything. Only work through the material that you think will earn you the most points.
• Think back to the lesson: What did your teacher pay the most attention to? You can also ask some of your classmates what they think you should study.
• Summarize your notes in your own words and learn them so that you may be able to remember the material more easily.
• Discuss the important points with your friends. This will help you remember them better.
• Underline or highlight important information in red. It increases the chance that you can remember.
• If you are a bit tired, have a snack!
• Apply the curriculum to the real world.

Warnings

• Don't get distracted by things on the computer (music probably won't help you study harder in this case)
• Don't drink too much coffee or too much of an energy drink - it's dangerous to your health and will keep you awake longer than you should!
• Remember that blocks are not always the way out. It decreases your chances of actually memorizing the material. Blocks for a test are fine, but don't use them too often, especially not during important exams or exams. If you do study, you will waste time trying to remember and then understand what is being asked.
• If you don't remember the answer to a test, don't commit fraud as this can have serious consequences. It is always better to lose but not lose your integrity than to win through your dishonesty.
• If you are going to study on the way to school, do not do this while you are driving; you should always keep your focus on the road!

Necessities

• Study books
• Notes
• Highlighters
• Pens / pencils
• Paper
• Flash cards
• A peaceful place
• Water
• Attention