Preparing For Tests

I believe that everyone has their own personal way of preparing for tests, but I have found a very concise and orderly method of preparing well for any test, whether it is the SAT, ACT, or even a mid-term exam for a history class. I usually begin the process by ordering my notes and all of my study materials into different piles. The piles can divide the information by chapter, topic, or by how well I know the information. By visually organizing the information, it gives my brain a chance to understand the structure of the information, and becomes much easier to memorize everything. When I organize information into piles by how well I know the material, it also helps me understand which areas I should focus on more.

When there is a lot of information to cover, flashcards are the easiest way to memorize key words or dates. Not only are flashcards time-efficient, but they are also truly effective. I begin by creating any necessary flashcards that pertain to the subject or topic I am studying. Although it seems tedious, just writing down the facts on paper helps me study!  I take about an hour and a half studying the flashcards, and then I take a ten minute break to eat something and relax. I do not find it helpful to study for five or six consecutive hours without a break. It seems to be too much for me to handle sometimes and I get really exhausted very quickly. I have also found that studying right before a test is less helpful than studying the night before because during sleep the brain has the time to process everything that it studied and in the morning, it is much easier to recall than if it was reviewed ten minutes before the exam.

Highlighting information that I have difficulty recalling has also been a helpful technique for me. The brain remembers color better than it remembers black and white, so having key facts or easily forgettable information in a different color helps the information stick out in my memory.

Finally, before the SAT, I remember just completely taking the night before off to relax and give my brain a rest. I have found that tactic to be extremely helpful and it definitely can help anyone keep calm on a big test day!