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Before you begin to study for an exam, you need to have taken good notes in class. Listen to what your teacher says closely. Many times, teachers will drop clues to what will be covered on the test. These hints can range from going over the information multiple times, using words like "important" or "key" when covering an idea, to even saying, "This will be on the exam." Write down everything you think is important. The more you write down during class, the better prepared you will be for the test. Review your notes each day. Don't cram. Waiting until the night before an exam only hurts you. Cramming will sometimes give you a passing grade, but it is not an effective, reliable study method. Students who study consistently, but in shorter amounts of time, do better in school. To avoid cramming, read your notes daily so you learn the information as you go along. Even if the teacher gives you one, make your own outline for the information covered on the test. Include the main concepts and ideas that will be covered on the test. Include examples, definitions, formulas, and other pertinent information. Make your own questions to test yourself. If you know there will be an essay on the test, then come up with essay questions and answers. Study with another student in the class and ask each other questions about the material. Make flashcards. Place definitions, concepts, themes, dates, and formulas on flashcards to quiz yourself. Reword concepts on your study guide. Many teachers ask information in different ways to see how well your synthesis of the material is. Think of other ways questions might be asked or another way a concept could be presented on the exam. You should never ignore the information until the date of the exam. You should review the information daily and weekly to begin committing it to memory and begin fully understanding the information. As the exam date approaches, allot more time for studying that subject. You may need some additional time to brush up on certain ideas or do a more comprehensive look at the material. Don't wait until the last minute to study for a test. When you know a test is coming up, start studying for it a week before the exam date. Don't wait on the teacher to give you a study guide to begin studying. Reread the chapter, review your notes, learn definitions and formulas. Don't stay up all night before an exam. If you are tired, you will not do well. Get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch, and come to class early. Coming to class on time also ensures that you are not late to the exam. If the teacher gives any tips, flash reviews, or provides additional information, you will be in class to hear it. A common mistake students make is not reading the instructions or the questions carefully, and then making errors on the test. Take your time as you take the test. Read the directions for each section, then read each question. Ask your teacher if you are unclear about a question on the test. When you take a test, you neither want to rush or work too slow. Think about how long you have to finish, the number of questions, and the types of questions. You may want to tackle difficult or long sections first. If an essay is worth 1/4 of your overall test grade, you might want to write that first. Another strategy is to answer easy questions, saving questions you are unsure about for last. Many times, our initial impressions are correct, but then we second-guess ourselves until we write down the wrong answer. If you have a gut reaction to a question, then trust that instinct.
Take good notes. Make your own study guide. Make time for studying. Start reviewing a week before the test. Get plenty of rest. Read the questions carefully. Pace yourself. Trust your instinct.