Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Organizing studying
• Part 2 of 3: Active studying
• Part 3 of 3: Seeking help
• Tips
• Necessities

There really is no reason to fear tests and exams. If you learn how to successfully study the subject matter, you will be actively engaged in your education or study and this will ensure that you do not become a zombie who is only concerned with studying. You can learn how to effectively organize your study sessions, study actively, and find the support you need to make it to the finish line. Go to Step 1 for more information.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Organizing studying

1. Find a good place to study. Find a quiet, well-lit workplace where you can sit comfortably and not be distracted. Some people choose a specific place to study, while others like to switch between their room, a cafe, the library and other places to make studying less monotonous. Choose what suits you and your study habits best.
   • Some studies show that if you study information in different places, you can, as it were, put it in different boxes. This way it is easier to remember the information if you can associate it with a particular place.
   • Some students believe that they can study more effectively in public places because it makes it harder for them to watch television or engage in other distracting things around the house. Know yourself and cut your bad habits.
2. Make a study schedule and stick to it. Which subject matter do you hope to have studied at the end of the week? And at the end of each day? Working with a study schedule allows you to set clear goals for each study session and cross these goals when you have achieved them. Study planning can reduce anxiety and stress and reassure you that you have taken the necessary steps.
3. Set reasonable study goals that you know you can achieve. Going through 12 chapters on trigonometry the night before an important test will likely do more harm than good. Likewise, studying all of Shakespeare's works for a few weeks before your test will probably not be the best way to retain all of the information until the actual test. Organize your study sessions and study goals in the most effective way in order to be able to memorize the most important learning material.
   • You can also continue studying during the school year by making good notes every day for 15 minutes that you can use later. By studying for short periods at a time, you will be able to remember more of the material and feel less stressed. You will finish taking notes a month before your test so you can spend a few hours each day reviewing them and practicing writing responses under time pressure.

Part 2 of 3: Active studying

1. Make good use of your texts. Rather than just quickly reading through the sometimes boring texts you have to study, take a more active stance by taking notes on paper or in your book, highlighting important pieces of text, and by asking about topics from the text. By turning your study session into an activity in which you should actively participate, you can liven up studying and help you remember the subject matter better.
   • Ask open-ended questions about any text or topic you study and write them in the margin or on a separate piece of paper. Think about the consequences if certain elements of the text were to change or if certain features were to appear in a different form. Whether it concerns physics, history or any other subject, small changes can result in big differences and your thinking process is very important.
2. Repeat and summarize the subject matter. While you are studying, pause after every few minutes to briefly summarize what you have read. Write a short summary of a few sentences with your notes or at the bottom of the page of your book. Use your own words. A good way to summarize the material is to write down your notes from memory. Then read through it again and fill in the missing pieces with a pen or pencil in a different color. You know that the other color represents the information that you have trouble remembering.
   • Try to summarize from time to time. On a separate sheet of paper, write everything you know about a particular subject or subject without looking in your books or previous notes. Compare your new notes with the old ones, find out what you've forgotten and what you still need to memorize.
3. Draw or scribble on a piece of paper while studying. If you are learning in a visual way, it is important to divide information into pieces using drawings or diagrams to make it easier to remember the learning material in the long term. Diagrams, mind maps, and freehand drawings can all be helpful ways to better understand and memorize the subject matter than you can by just reading the text. Don't be afraid to use colors in the same way - color in your drawing or mark the text with markers.
4. Find someone who knows nothing about the subject and explain it to him or her. Even if you are just explaining it in front of the mirror or to your cat, take the time to explain the topic to the person as if he or she is hearing about it for the first time and you are the teacher. It is difficult to forget the information once you have done this and it also forces you to clarify the subject matter and explain it in the simplest and most concise way.
   • If no one is around, pretend that you are being interviewed on the subject on television or on the radio. Ask yourself a number of questions and try to answer them as concisely and clearly as possible. Imagine that people are watching and listening and that they want to hear everything about that subject.
5. Use an old study manual or an old test. Taking old exams or tests within the time limit will give you the opportunity to test yourself under the same conditions. It is also an opportunity to see if you also have gaps in your knowledge so that you know what to study again. It is also helpful to see if you can get everything you want to say on paper within the time limit. Exercise under time pressure with the help of a clock. You can use your phone or your computer for this.
6. Take regular breaks to improve your concentration. If you take regular breaks, you will be able to concentrate better and you will also find that you absorb and remember more information than if you try to go through the subject matter at once. Don't waste your energy and time studying when you are tired. That way you really don't remember what you just read.
   • Try to stick to your schedule. Check out subjects and courses if you have studied them. In fact, it may be a good idea to reward yourself with a treat if you have achieved a goal to motivate yourself to study. It's good motivation not to think about giving up.

Part 3 of 3: Seeking help

1. Talk to your teachers. Try to see your teachers as part of your support network and take advantage of the help they offer you. Ask for their help when it becomes clear to you that you need it. Knowing this early in the learning process will make it easier to walk up to them and ask for help.
2. Study with your classmates. Find a suitable group of good students who are eager to get good grades and, in addition to your other study sessions, schedule regular times to study together. Discuss the topics you need to study, help each other solve problems and understand the subject matter, and question each other about the subject matter. Studying in a group can be a great way to reduce your anxiety and make studying both productive and fun.
   • Think of ways in which you can test each other and play challenging games to memorize the subject matter. Use index cards or give your study sessions the character of a game in the form of a quiz. If you don't have time to meet, chat over the internet.
   • Make sure you actually study with your friends during your study sessions. It may be better to study with classmates you are not friends with in order to be more productive.
3. Let your family help you. Your family can help you, even if they don't understand the subject matter you are studying. Ask them to test you, explain problems, read with you, and help you stay organized. Parents, siblings who have experience studying can have good ideas to help you prepare. Family and friends can also provide moral support when you feel down or fear studying.
   • You need emotional support just as much as any other kind of support. If you can trust someone and talk to them about your fears or concerns, then you can get rid of a lot of unnecessary concerns with a sympathetic listener. Even if you have someone you trust over the internet or over the phone, this is better than having no one at all.
4. Stay relaxed. Do something that relaxes you every day, such as listening to your favorite music, going for a walk, going for a swim, spending time with your pets, or talking to a close friend. This will allow you to relax while studying and feel connected to others and the world. You can also do relaxation exercises, meditate, or simply lie on your back to relax from time to time.

Tips

• Find someone to test you, or read the scriptures, cover them with your hand and repeat what they say. This will improve your memory and make you feel more confident.
• Don't make pointless notes or simply copy large chunks of text. Study old exams and tests so you can see what questions might be asked. Base your study sessions on topics likely to appear in the test. As explained above, it is important to take an active attitude while studying so that you can get the most out of your study sessions.
• Have confidence. If you are optimistic about your tests, you will absorb the material much more quickly and remember it when you need it.
• Teach the material you are studying to someone else - you will learn 95% of what you tell someone else.
• Alternate courses. Know which subjects you are good at and which you are not good at and vary them in your study planning. This way you don't force yourself to learn all the difficult topics at once, but you can alternate the tricky information with more interesting topics.
• Make study cards on which you write the material and underline important information. Don't copy everything from your textbook like that! Make old exam papers. Find out how to answer the exam questions in such a way that you get as many points as possible.
• Try out new activities such as drawing or creating a mind map to make learning more interesting and fun. You will also be able to memorize the subject matter more easily.
• You can also record your study session on your phone. For example, when you go to bed, you can listen several times to the pieces of material that you cannot remember. That way, the fabric lingers in your head.
• Ask your parents or another responsible person if they only want you to use your phone and other gadgets for a certain amount of time each day. Do your best not to distract yourself.
• Relax and don't rush. It is always best to sleep well the night before your test or exam. This also helps you to remember more of the subject matter.

Necessities

• Flipchart, a large sheet of paper or a writing pad for your study planning.
• Highlighters and a ruler to draw up your study plan.
• Thumbtacks or adhesive strips to hang your study plan somewhere visible.