Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Nothing can cause students more fear and worry than an important test or exam. Wanting to study well is a noble endeavor, but this can be difficult without proper guidance. It is important to develop good study skills early in your study career - skills that you will always be able to put to good use. Fortunately, this is something every student will have to deal with, at all school levels, so it should be possible to get some help with this. Read on below to get started quickly.

To step

1. Try to calm yourself. It is good to realize that if you have been there often enough and completed a reasonable number of assignments, you have already acquired a lot of knowledge. This knowledge base will help you during the exam.
   • Do not panic. Panic will only make your situation worse. You can then only focus on the horror, not the upcoming exam. In many cases, panic will decrease your chances of doing well on the exam. If you panic, take a deep breath first (and try not to hyperventilate), then tell yourself that you are well can do.
   • Activities such as yoga and meditation can help reduce stress. A refreshed body and clear mind are prepared to tackle the exam.
   • You are smart enough to realize that you will have to study days in advance. While some don't start studying until the day before an exam (and some people always study this way), it's important to realize that just a little bit of studying is not the ideal way to gain knowledge. especially not when it comes to remembering acquired knowledge for a longer period of time. Don't study too much! Take a 5-15 minute break from time to time.
2. Determine what material to study. Most exams cover specific subjects and study material, and it is important to know which material or components you want to study. Otherwise, you may be using your precious study time for the wrong things. Ask your teacher about the topics that will be examined and which chapters you should have studied. For example: which period in African history? Are tables important? If anything is unclear, ask your teacher, who wants you to pass.
   • Study the most important topics first. Exams usually cover a few core terms, concepts, or skills. When you are short on time, focus your energies on the very important areas that you will be tested on, rather than gaining knowledge everywhere and nowhere. Review sheets that have been handed out, the topics highlighted in textbooks, and the items your teacher emphasizes repeatedly, as these are all clues to what the main topics or items are.
   • Find out how the exam will be structured. What types of questions are included (multiple choice, essay, issues, etc.)? Find out how much each part is worth. If you don't know, ask your teacher. This allows you to find out what the most important parts are and how the exam will be structured.
3. Make a study plan. It may seem like a simple task, but people who create a detailed study plan often have an easier time studying and find that they have more time to relax and unwind. When making a study plan, you should consider the amount of time you have left before the exam. Is the exam this month? Did the teacher just give you the test? Is it an exam you worked towards from the beginning of the year? Depending on the time frame, you can make the study plan long or short.
   • Determine which topics you do not yet know enough about, and make sure you spend more time on them. You still need to keep up with the parts you know enough about, but they will be easier for you, so try to focus on the more challenging topics.
   • Plan your time. It's tempting to postpone everything until the night before the test. Instead, you better manage how much time you will set aside for study each day. Don't forget to take breaks into account. A good rule is: study for half an hour, take a 10 minute break.
4. Determine your study methods. Study methods are about the use of colors, photos, brainstorming sessions and mind maps. Some people learn and remember things better when they are in certain colors, while other people may remember diagrams and pictures more easily. To do this, use the method that works best for you; as long as it's effective, it doesn't matter what it is. There is no point in reading loads of text if your study method uses graphs. Remember, everyone has different methods of studying, so what works for your best friend doesn't have to work for you.
   • Use aids to help you study. Tools like flash cards can be boring, but really help with remembering important things. If flash cards don't seem to help you, working out a summary of your notes can work.
   • Place flash cards anywhere in the house to test yourself. This is a great way to sneak in extra study time (as we'll discuss below).
   • Don't forget to study smarter, not harder.
5. make notes and ask questions. It's never too late for questions, and the classes for the exam are usually a review, which is exactly what you need. If you are studying and come across a part you don't understand, write it down. Ask your teacher questions during class or at any other convenient time. And don't worry - you're not stupid for asking questions. Questions mean that you are actively paying attention and that you are learning. In addition, a question ahead of time can mean a better grade on the exam.
6. Look for the right learning resources. Your textbook, notes, online resources, classmates, teachers and possibly the people in your home can all be useful as a source of information. Previous assignments are especially good, because for some tests the questions are derived directly from the homework.
7. Ask for help. You don't get bonus points by doing everything alone. Classmates can be helpful in studying, but choose someone you really want, not the friend you can laugh with. Ask for help from your parents or siblings; they really appreciate being asked. Younger siblings especially love to test their older siblings!
   • Create a study group. Not only do you have extra helpers, you also have the advantage that you study with people you know well. However, try to exclude those who will not really help but only distract everyone from your study group. Don't be rude in rejecting anyone you don't like, but be careful who you add to your study group!
8. Try to remember as much as possible. The key to peak performance is the ability to memorize all relevant material. There are tricks to help you remember things, also called mnemonics. Consider, for example, poetic or rhyming mnemonics for auditory learners, visual images and fantasy for the visual learner, dance or movement for the kinesthetic learner (because muscles have a memory), or a combination of these. Repetition is another form of memorization usually used. You can store many more in your memory, if done regularly. Practice this even beyond the point where you can directly recall the material, as it will imprint it even more firmly.
   • A well-known reminder is HOMES for remembering the Great Lakes. Another is drawing stick figures to learn words (a good reason to draw cartoons!). Create your own mnemonics to suit your learning style.
   • Rewrite your notes to study them. This is an effective way to remember things.
9. Add unnoticed study time to your day. Short, repeated study sessions are often more effective than studying for long periods of time. View your flash cards while waiting for the bus. Look at a drawing of the spleen while waiting for breakfast. Read an important quote from "Macbeth" while brushing your teeth. Read study material during homework hours or take the extra time during lunch.
10. Reward yourself. It can help to be able to work towards a reward for achieving your goal. Have rewards ready for study milestones and achievements, as the value you place on them increases.
11. Make sure you have everything in order for the test. Make sure you prepare everything for the test the night before. If you need an HB pencil, calculator, German dictionary or any other supplies, then must you have them ready. The better prepared you are, the calmer you will become, and the more likely you are to perform well. Make sure your alarm is set so that you will oversleep.
    • If you are allowed to eat during the test, you can bring some wine gums for a sugar boost, but fruits and vegetables are better. Apples and carrots are a simple snack that will help replenish the energy you need for your thinking ability.
    • Bring a bottle of water without stickers or labels (one might suspect you have written answers on them).
12. Eat good. Good nutrition is essential for optimal thinking. Avoid sweet and fatty foods, such as ice cream and cookies. Replace sweet drinks with a cool glass of water, fresh juice, or milk.
    • Eat a "brain" meal the night before. Fish makes a great meal because it is nutrition for your brain. Eat various fresh vegetables and pasta with the fish.
    • Eat a good breakfast. This will keep your brain sharp. An example of a good breakfast is a glass of juice, an egg, toast and cheese. If you want to eat a bowl of cold cereal, make sure it is healthy and contains whole grains, with no added sugars, otherwise you may experience a "dip" during the test.
    • Avoid drinking coffee as this will only keep you awake and boost your sugar levels. Once the caffeine wears off, you won't be able to keep your eyes open. Taking a test while feeling drowsy is not the right way, so don't drink caffeine or other foods right before going to bed. Anything you need to digest will keep you awake at night.
    • Be careful about making sudden changes to your diet; eat whatever you eat on a regular school day so as not to upset your digestion.
13. Provide enough sleep before the big day. This step is very important and cannot be skipped. Without sleep, your chances of doing well on the test drop very quickly because your brain can't focus on what needs to be done.
    • If you can't sleep, have some warm milk or tea, but definitely no caffeine!
    • Do not change your sleeping pattern. Go to bed at a normal time, so as not to disturb your day / night rhythm.
14. Make sure you are ready for the test on time. Set your alarm in the morning; arrive on time or even a few minutes early. If it is an exam that requires registration, entry fee, identification, etc., allow extra time for it.
    • Have a positive attitude! Studying a lot but not really expecting to pass that exam will reduce your chance of success. See yourself passing with flying colors, building on all the preparation and consideration you have given to your studies up to this point. Trust is the key!
    • Assume high grades. Don't try to only to pass the test (if it is a fairly easy test or exam), but assume a ten with a pencil. This way you get a better grade. In addition, a very good result on this test will compensate for a less successful next test.

Tips

• Do not listen to music while trying to fall asleep as this will only keep your mind active and disturb sleep!
• Sucking on a mint while studying will stimulate your mind, making it easier for you to remember facts you need to know.
• The best way to study for a difficult exam is to study, memorize and understand!
• Keep in mind that you are smart and no other person is better than you. Trust yourself. If you study in the recommended way and well, you will achieve your goals.
• If you have been absent once and have not received notes, charts, maps, etc., do not wait until the day before (or even the day of) the test to receive it. Make sure you have all the information on time!
• If the teacher writes certain points on the board, this is usually an important indicator of what will be tested. Write it down as best you can.
• Don't procrastinate. You will not take the exam to your fullest if you procrastinate. This is a serious problem for some.
• Avoid junk food and exercise and meditate daily. Keep mind and body clean.
• Stay focused and keep your goals in mind, and the round of applause you get when you succeed.
• Chew gum during the exam. If this is not allowed, suck on a hard candy.

Warnings

• As for procrastination, don't say something like "I'm going to study after ..." because that is just procrastination in a transparent disguise.
• Don't study so hard that by the time the exam or test comes, you will black out from fatigue and be too tense to function properly. "Studying hard" does not mean that you continue studying until you are completely exhausted.
• Avoid blocks; this is not a good study attitude. Study consistently and regularly throughout the school year.
• No matter how desperate you are, don't cheat during a test. Listen to your conscience. It's more terrible to be caught cheating than not doing well in school. You will feel much less satisfied if you pass that test. Make sure to walk out of the classroom with your head held high, knowing you've done your best. This is much better than false pride, where you have to put the thought of cheating aside.
• In some cases, friends are not always the best choice for studying together. If you don't understand the questions in an assignment, but they may be important to the upcoming test, then the best thing to do is ask the teacher about them. Studying for the wrong answers is one of the worst things you can do while studying for the test.
• Don't stay late at night studying. When faced with time constraints, learn only the key details that sum up the material. If you've been up all night studying, you can still do badly from lack of sleep.
• Never say "I'm going to study". When you say that, you are only going to start studying at that moment.
• Study groups can turn into a social event rather than a study session. It can help to have an adult with them to keep the overview, like a helpful parent.
• Summaries for all subjects and topics are available to help you study, but they are not a substitute for your own notes.

Necessities

• Study material
• A good place to study
• A fresh mind to start the study