5 Strategies to Ace Your Midterms
Tests can be stressful, but when you’re facing a series of exams back-to-back, the pressure can really pile on. Midterms, in particular, can feel overwhelming as you juggle multiple subjects and deadlines. But with the right strategies, you can tackle them with confidence! Here are my top 5 favorite tips and tricks to guarantee success during Midterms!
1) Start Early
As a chronic procrastinator, I know this isn’t easy, but if you start studying early it really is worth it. The sheer number of tests that you will have to take during midterms means you’ll need lots of time to actually memorize the requisite materials. Starting 2-3 weeks before the test will give your brain time to do this by building stronger pathways to the information you learn. Contrary to popular belief, cramming the night before does not keep information fresh in your mind; Instead, it causes fatigue and confusion that makes you mix up the information you’ve learned.
2) Recreate Your Testing Environment
Instead of studying on your bed, in your pajamas, or with music playing in the background. Try to recreate the environment that you will be taking midterms in. Sit at your desk or dining room table, wear outerwear or your school uniform, and make sure you’re in complete silence or have someone silently studying next to you. The brain forms an association between your environment and the information you’re learning. So when you go to recall the material you learn, the retrieval of it’s content is stronger because the same environmental cues trigger your memory. This strategy is called content utilized learning.
3) Keep a Drink on Hand
Now if you’re anything like me, you probably can’t stay concentrated while studying for too long. I blame it on the subway surfer videos. However, if you keep a drink nearby, instead of reaching for your phone or tetris on your computer, you will reach for your drink and take a sip to keep your mind from wandering. This simple action will prevent you from wasting more time. The best drinks to have while studying (in moderation, of course) are coffee, tea, sparkling water, and regular water. Emphasis on the regular water consumption since even the slightest lack of hydration can reduce your cognitive functions. Be sure to avoid soda, sugary juices, energy drinks, and alcohol, although hopefully this isn’t a concern for CSW students.
4) Figure Out Your Learning Style
Everyone retains information differently. To figure out how to optimize your memorization, cater to your learning style. Here is a quiz to determine your learning style: https://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/. If you are a visual learner, create mind maps, draw what you’re learning, and color code. If you are an auditory learner, narrate whatever your process and the information out loud, discuss the material, and watch video or listen to recordings about your study content. If you are a kinesthetic learner, perform some type of action while studying like chewing gum, tapping your foot, or using fidget toys (make sure you’re recreating this movement while taking the test), use memory games, and take active breaks to take a short walk in between study periods. If you are someone who learns best by reading/writing, rewrite the information in your own words, translate any visual representations into words, and keep on rereading your notes.
5) Sleep and Eat Properly
The night before you have a midterm, rest up!! Sleep for 7-9 hours to improve your memory, alertness, and to stay clear-headed. Sleeping improves your memory, and helps your body recover from the stress you’re experiencing. Having a nice, protein filled, breakfast beforehand also improves concentration and provides more energy. Some good options include eggs, fish milk, and steel cut oatmeal or yogurt with antioxidant rich fruits. Make sure you avoid anything with a lot of sugar.
Now that you have these strategies, it’s time to put them into action and take control of your exam preparation. Stay focused, stay organized, and remember that small, consistent efforts can make a big difference. To sum up, I wish all the students good luck for their midterms!!
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