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Finals are coming. Studying for finals or any exam can seem overwhelming. Here are some study tips for your nerd to get them through finals.
Study Environment
The best study environment is one that is quiet and away from distractions. I have found that if my nerds are studying near the kitchen they will be getting up every 20 minutes or so to look through the pantry for a snack. If they are studying in their room, I will normally not see them for a few hours. You want your nerd to have a good Desk Lamp
It is important to have all of the tools you will need readily accessible. If you have to spend fifteen minutes looking for a pencil, finding your flashcards, or digging through your room for the adapter for your laptop, you’re going to be out of time pretty quickly. You can avoid this by keeping a well-stocked Desk Organizer Caddy
Distractions can interrupt your flow and make studying more difficult. Try to unplug from social media and turn your phone to silent while you are in study mode.
By having a designated, quiet study spot that is stocked with all your necessary study tools, your nerd will save countless valuable minutes each time they sit down to hit the books.
Time
Don’t forget to take breaks. Sitting at a computer for hours at a time can put a strain on your brain. Some nerds like to schedule breaks every 40 minutes and some like to work for an hour straight. My kids use the same time block system that I use. They will work quickly, uninterrupted, and focused for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. We have found that this is the best schedule for us. Using a timer can help your nerd learn to work on a schedule.
Flashcards
Making yourself flashcards of vocabulary words, important information, and dates can help you whether you study alone or with a partner. This is a two-fold study tip. Making your own flashcards can not only help you retain information just through the act of writing it down but will also help you connect important pieces of information together.
Writing it Down
Studies have shown that you are more likely to remember something if you have physically written it down. Using this technique you can take notes during class lectures or from books and retaining information more easily.
It can be easy to get lost in a textbook and look back over a page, only to realize you don’t remember what you just read. But luckily, that can be remedied by writing the information down. There are two great ways to retain information that you write down, bulleted lists and handwritten notes.
Bulleted List
If you make a bulleted list of the pertinent information on a page instead of just rephrasing it mentally or aloud it can be easier for you to understand what you are reading. Lists are very helpful to most people which is why we make to-do lists and grocery lists. Without looking back down at the textbook, jot down the essentials in list form of the material you just read. Then look over the book to make sure you haven’t left out any necessary information.
Handwritten Notes
For classes that require you to read large bodies of text, such as history or English, make sure to stop periodically as you read. Pause at the end of each section and without looking back at the text, summarize it in your own words. Now look back over the material to make sure you summarized the information accurately and remembered the relevant details. Add any additional information that you missed and then move on to the next section.
There is a strong connection between the process of hand-writing your notes or making a list and committing them to memory. If you are trying to memorize some information and you just can’t get it quite straight in your head, try writing it out. If you don’t remember the first time, try writing it repetitively, like ten times or more, while focusing on what you’re writing.
Find Online Help
With all of the homework and study resources available online, a simple Google search can be overwhelming. There are many websites that offer free help and resources for all grade levels. For a list of online resources, check out my previous blog School is Back – Seven Best Homework Help Websites.
Reading and Note Taking
There are also many apps available to help with studying for a test. These are the two best apps for reading and taking notes:
Notability – In addition to being a great tool for notetaking, Notability is a great tool for teachers too. Before an exam, a teacher can create a review sheet and email it to students. Students can use Notability to share notes with students who were absent or those who need help reviewing for an exam.
Evernote – Evernote does a lot. In addition to rich text formatted notes and images, it has in-app image annotation, easy notes sharing, email integration, and tons of organization tools. You can keep to-do lists with assignments and add due dates to assignments before you share with other students involved in your group projects.
There are many other apps for reading and taking notes. A few of the others that would be worth a look are Audible, iBooks, Sparknotes, and Studious.
Homework Help
In addition to the websites mentioned in School is Back – Seven Best Homework Help Websites, there are many homework help apps. Some of the most popular are:
Socratic Math and Homework Help – This free app helps with homework in Math (Algebra, Calculus, Statistics, Graphing, etc), English, Science, History, Chemistry, Economics, and more. To use the app all you need to do is take a photo of your homework question and you will get explanations, videos, and step-by-step help.
Duolingo – This free language app offers training in 33 different languages. Many classrooms are using Duolingo to teach a second language. Learning a new language through Duolingo is fun. You earn points for correct answers and lessons are broken down into small sections to make learning quick and effective.
Test Specific
There are also apps that are test specific. Some of the best reviewed are:
Quizlet – This app contains expert created study guides that will get you ready for test day for many subjects and professional certifications. Some of the school subjects include science, foreign language, English, and vocabulary. Study guides are also available for the SAT and PSAT exams. Using Quizlet, you are able to create flashcards and diagrams to help you study.
Some of the professional certifications include MCAT, GMAT, GRE, Series 7, and EMT.
AP Flashcards – This app, created by Varsity Tutors, has created flashcards that allow you to practice with as few or as many questions as you like. Subjects include mathematics, computer science, English, all of the sciences, history, social science, and world languages. These flashcards can be used even if the student only has a few minutes to study.
Study Groups
Studying with a friend can really help with retaining information. Working together you can teach each other and quiz each other to find out strengths and weaknesses.
Teach Each Other
Teaching someone else is a great way to solidify the information you have been studying. Normally, teaching someone else shows you that you have learned more about the material than you thought you did.
Find a study-buddy and explain the material to them as if they are hearing about it for the first time. The act of teaching material to another human being requires you to re-frame the information in a new way and think more clearly about how all the elements fit together.
Quiz Games
Create a quiz game for your study group. Having rewards like candy is a great way to have fun while studying. Have each person in the group create a serious of questions and do a Jeopardy-style game. Clickers can be borrowed from other board games around the house or even smacking a hand down on the table can be used in place of a clicker.
Take advantage of all the various study tools and learning techniques available. Different nerds learn in different ways, and even a technique that works well for you may not always be the most efficient in every subject area. Use multiple study methods to be sure that all your bases are covered.
What are your best study tips? What has gotten you through past finals with the best grades?
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