Saturday, March 14, 2015

How to Focus on Studying During Exams!







Studying for any exam and test can be difficult and stressful. In fact, many people find it hard to focus on the task they're trying to accomplish. However, there are some short, simple things to do that can really help you focus when studying.

1) Find a suitable environment to study: Your bedroom or classroom isn't always the best possible place. Find a nice, quiet place with a large, comfortable chair, like your sitting room, preferably without a television, a computer or a cell phone within your reach.
  • The library is usually a nice place to study because it's quiet. 

2) Collect all materials before you begin studying:  Do not plan to look for pens, highlighters, rulers, etc, in the middle of studying. It can be really distracting at times, so prepare everything you think you need.



3) Colletct suitable revision snacks: No energy drinks or coffee, because sooner or later, you will crash out. Nut chocolate bars, fruit, and water are good, because they are simple and effective at releasing carbohydrates.



4) Take Short Breaks: After 45 minutes of studying, take a 10 minute break and do something different. Try to get back to your studying after the break; the break shouldn't be longer than 20 minutes.
  • Plan your breaks out with alarms. If your breaks are planned, you're less likely to miss them in the first place, and more importantly, less likely to "accidentally" take more time than is needed.
  • Why take breaks? Your brain needs time to recharge after it processes a bunch of information. In some studies, taking a break and walking around improved memory recall and simple test scores in subjects.

 5) Get Motivated: If you do your revision well and prepare for the exam, you will do fine. Get to a point with your revision so you can enjoy the exam when it happens. Do not think that the exam is a big deal, think of it as something to challenge your learning!
  • Set a goal for yourself, even if it's a bit unrealistic. Push yourself to do better than what you think you can do, and who knows, maybe you'll surprise yourself.
  • Motivate yourself with a reward. This takes a bit of self-control, so ask someone in a position of authority to help you out if you need help. Give yourself a reward if you study well, feel prepared, and do well on the test.
  • Tell yourself why studying is important. This is different for each person. Whatever it is, remind yourself of why you're working hard and tell yourself it's worth it.

6) Sit down and study: You have everything you need in front of you and there's nothing left to procrastinate with. It's just you and the material. Well? What are you waiting for?
  • Use flash cards and notes to your advantage. Flash cards are helpful for some people, as they contain important information in very little space. Use them if you feel they are helpful for you. Lay them out sequentially, or order them according to a different scheme if you want to give them a little more meaning.
  • Make use of mnemonic tools. "Mnemonic tools" is a fancy word for memorization. Make some information into a funny song, or put the information into an acronym (remember VIBGYOR?) to help you remember what you're trying to remember.
  • Make sure you know the most important information first, and then move onto the rest. Study and understand key concepts before you branch out. This will give you a basic level of understanding to build on.

Here are some things you need to avoid:




1) Don't panic: When you panic, you make mistakes, so keep calm throughout. If you successfully planned your revision, you will have no need to panic when the exam comes. Take a deep breath, tell yourself "I can do this," and cool down.


2) Minimize computer use: Especially the internet. You learn better when you write things out yourself. Also refrain from using your cell phone as you will be replying to texts every minute, which is very distracting.
  • Turn your internet off if you know you'll be tempted. Turn your computer off or ask your friend to hold onto it. Basically, try to ensure that you're not whiling away your time on the Internet when you're supposed to be studying.

3) Don't listen to music unless it helps you study: Some people need music in order to help them study, but try not to give your brain anything else to focus on while you're studying. One more distraction, even if it's calming music, is another thing your brain has to process in addition to the information you're trying to learn.


4) Don't stray off-topic: We all catch ourselves going off-topic from time to time. Sometimes it's because the information we're supposed to learn is boring; sometimes it's because the information we don't need to know is exciting. Whatever it is, wait until after you've studied to really dig deeper and explore different subjects.
  • Always ask yourself: How likely is it that this information will show up on my test? If you're really focused, you can rank the information from the most likely to the least likely, giving the most likely material the majority of your time and the least likely the rest of it.

5) Don't get discouraged: Studying for a test can be daunting, especially in the beginning. Take things in manageable chunks and don't worry about getting things perfect the first time around. Remember, you're here to learn, not necessarily to top a test. Try to understand the "big picture" if you're having trouble understanding the concept. This should make the details easier to understand.

Expert Tips:

  • Studying in a closed room boosts your productivity and eases any distractions.
  • Don't think negative. 
  • Do not worry too much. If you're feeling panicky while studying, take a deep breath, read the notes and try to process & understand the information.
  • Sleep well and have your day scheduled. Knowing that you have can have a break after an hour, or maybe two hours can motivate yourself to work hard. Working hard makes the time seem to go faster.
  • Always study at a quiet room.
  • Have healthy brain foods to help you focus.
  • Never wallow in panic! Instead, focus on the step in front of you, and complete that task. And then go on to the next step. Think positively, and be determined to score a good grade.
  • Set yourself a timetable for your studies and time slots for each subject (e.g. math @ 6:30; English @ 7:30; etc.)
  • Make notes. Read a paragraph and either blindly or understand and write down the essential stuff in that para. This will help you to boost memory
  • Don't think about friends or compare yourself with others. Instead of this think that study is a fantasy and study with your imagination or with curiosity.
Attention:

  • Don't leave your revision to the last minute. Plan in advance. Just remember, the earlier you start, the less stress you will feel. Revise your work bit by bit.
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