Putting it All Together - Tips on Savvy Studying

"OK," your teacher says cheerily. "Don't forget your history test is this Friday!"
If hearing this in class makes you groan, it's no surprise. In addition to your history test, you have a math test and there's talk of a pop quiz on Spanish verbs - all for Friday! Are they totally crazy? How will you get all your studying done in time?

Don't panic just yet. You need a plan. You'll need to know the most effective way to study, how to budget your time, how to keep cool for tests, and how to keep your cool overall! Look below for the secrets of studying successfully and taking tests with confidence.

Starting Studying in School

That history test is coming up, and every time you even think about World War II, it sends a little shiver up your spine. How will you remember all those names, places, and dates?

Believe it or not, studying effectively for tests and quizzes actually starts in the classroom as you take notes. Note taking is a way of remembering what you were taught or what you've read about. Unfortunately, most schools don't have classes that teach you how to take notes, which can make it challenging until you get the hang of it.

If you have a teacher who writes the notes on the board, that's a bonus: you can copy them down as he or she speaks. If not, you'll need to write down the most important points, along with any detailed information that the teacher stresses. Does he or she give a specific example or fact, such as the name of a famous war hero or the year that an author wrote his best-known play? Write it down! But try not to take too many notes - you'll be frantic if you try to write every word, and you won't understand the main points of the lesson.

If there is something that you need repeated, don't be afraid to ask the teacher to say it again; if he or she is going too fast, chances are that your classmates will also be relieved to hear the information again. If you're not sure that you understood the main points, you can always ask your teacher after class if he or she can take a look at your notes. Again, as with homework assignments, it can seem like a pain to ask about it after class, but it's much easier than wondering if you got the right notes as you study that night!

Finally, if you have a hard time taking notes or getting all the information, ask if you can bring a mini battery-operated tape recorder to class. This will allow you to record as you take notes, then play back and fill in any information you missed later.

Settling Down to Study

Depending on how neat your handwriting is, you may or may not have to recopy your notes when you study, but one thing is for sure - you don't want to be turning your notebook every which way and trying to read your own writing when you're supposed to be studying!

As you sit down to study in your work space, think about how much time you want to devote to each section or concept - this will keep you from getting overwhelmed. For example, instead of thinking about studying all of World War II (which could overwhelm even a real historian), try thinking about it in 2-year chunks or by specific battles.

Once you have manageable pieces to work with, you can think about how long you need to study each part. Most people can really concentrate for about 45 minutes. Figure out what you'll be covering in the time period you've set for yourself, and you're ready to begin.

When you study, you'll need to review your notes and any special information from your textbook, and in the case of math or science problems or equations, do some practice problems. Pay special attention to anything the teacher seemed to stress. Naturally, if he or she said, "This will be on the test," you'll want to study that information.

Many teachers will tell you ahead of time what the format of an exam will be, which can help you to tailor your studying accordingly. For example, if you know you are going to have a quiz containing multiple choice questions that test your knowledge of the facts about World War II, you'll know to focus on studying those specific details. But, on the other hand, if you know an exam will contain essay questions, before you begin to study ask yourself what questions the teacher might ask about World War II. Then come up with several essays - and using your notes, books, and other resources - figure out how you might answer those questions.

When trying to memorize dates, names, or other information, keep in mind that if you can't remember it right away, you're not weird or hopeless: it usually takes a number of tries to remember something correctly. Use special memory triggers that the teacher may have suggested or ones that you may have thought of yourself. Read things over several times if you need to, and write down any phrases or thoughts that will help you remember main ideas or concepts.

Keeping Your Concentration

If you find yourself getting distracted and thinking about other things, you'll need to get back into a study groove as soon as possible. You can promise yourself that when the 45-minute study session is over, you can take a 15-minute break to clear your head and think about things other than studying.

When you've finished studying, you should feel like you can approach the test or quiz with confidence - not necessarily that you will get 100% of the answers correct, but that you have a very good understanding of the information. If you can, enlist the help of a sibling or parent to quiz you for a few minutes. You might also get in touch with a classmate and ask each other some questions that you think might be on the test.

Studying in a Crowd

Should you study alone or with other people in your class? Sometimes it can be useful to go over things with people who are studying for the same test: you can make sure that your notes are correct and that you understand the subject. Study groups may help you because you can work as a group to come up with ways to remember concepts and then test one another.

But for some students, study groups can spell disaster because they find it too hard to concentrate and study properly. It can be easy to become distracted when you're with a bunch of friends or classmates, which means that you may spend more time talking and hanging out than actually studying.

In the end, it comes down to what works best for you. If you like to study alone and feel most confident about doing it that way, then it's fine. If you think you'd like to work in a group, try it out - just be aware of the pitfalls. One way to ensure quiet when studying with a group is to do it in the library; you'll be forced to keep things more low-key than if you're all at someone's kitchen table.

Taking the Terror Out of Test Taking
Are you sweating, chewing your pencil, and feeling butterflies in your stomach as your teacher hands out the test papers? A lot of people (adults included) get freaked out when it's time to take a test. They worry that they'll forget everything and they'll fail and never pass the class.

It's natural to feel stressed out when taking a test and sometimes a little adrenaline (a hormone secreted by your body during times of excitement or stress) is a good thing to jump-start you. But if you have true test-taking terror, there are some ways to beat it.

First, be sure you've studied properly. This sounds pretty basic, but if you are sure of the information, you'll have less reason to be worried. Also, get enough sleep the night before the test, dress in comfortable clothes, and eat before the test. Again, it sounds pretty simple - but if you're hungry, sleepy, or wearing an itchy sweater, it will only make your anxieties worse. And your memory recall will be much better on any test if you've had enough rest the night before. Don't think that staying up all night doing last-minute cramming will help you remember - it won't.
As the teacher hands out the test, listen closely for any instructions that aren't included on the exam. If you need to, and your teacher gives you permission, write them down on a piece of scrap paper nearby - it may keep you from getting anxious if you suddenly forget what to do. Once you have the test paper in front of you, take a deep breath and let it out. Then read over the entire test, checking out how long it is and all the parts that you are expected to complete. This will allow you to estimate how much time you have for each section and ask the teacher any questions. If something seems unclear before you start, don't panic! Raise your hand or go up to the teacher's desk and ask for more explanation.
Once you start taking the test, focus on addressing each question individually, and taking the time to really think about it. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't obsess over it. Instead, answer it the best way you can or skip over it and make a note to come back.
When answering essay questions, it's a good idea to make a little outline before you start. This may take a minute or two, but it will save time in the end because your thoughts will be better organized. The best things to think about when taking a test are:

*What would the teacher want to know?

*What seemed important when we learned this?

*What will show that I understand it?

If you're so nervous that you blank out or feel like you can't remember stuff while you're taking the test, you might need a mini break. It can be very easy to forget things that you know well - sometimes your locker combination might escape you for a minute or your hand might freeze on its way to dial your best friend's phone number. The difference is that usually you don't panic, and the combination or phone number comes right back to you. During a test, if you blank out on something and start to get tense, it suddenly becomes much more difficult to remember.

The best thing to do is take a really small break - even a minute or 2 - to wiggle your fingers and toes, take four or five deep breaths, or picture yourself in some calm place, like a beach. You can even try some breathing and relaxation exercises. When you return to the test, chances are good that you will be able to focus much better on the question that was giving you trouble.

Finished already? Although most teachers will let you hand a test in early, it usually means that you need to stay silent until everyone else finishes. When you've finished, it's a good idea to spend your time checking things over. You can also add details that you may not have thought you'd have time for. On the other hand, if you have 5 minutes until the bell rings and you're still writing, wind up whatever you're working on without panicking.

Updated and reviewed by: David B. Waldman, BA, MA
Date reviewed: August 2002
Originally reviewed by: Tom Sicoli, EdD