What Makes a Student 'Smart' #6

The last blog talked about how “smart” students enjoy reading books in the summer. They typically already have several books they can’t wait to read as soon as school is over. But what they are focused on right now are the preliminary steps for getting ready for exams because they are coming in less than 25 school days!

Studying for exams is not so stressful if it is done in a step-by-step method several weeks out. Cramming the weekend before never works. Here is how to prepare:

1. Go through your grade book. Any missing work needs to be made up now if the teacher will still allow it. Often a student or teacher will forget a missed grade, so don’t assume a teacher will not allow late work to still be made up if you ask nicely. It never hurts to ask! Next, research low homework, quiz and test grades and be sure you have the correct answers. Make an appointment with teachers now to go over any old work you don’t understand. Tell your teachers you are starting to review, and ask them whether there are any areas that will be dropped or emphasized for the exam. In the light of planning your studying, this is a legitimate question to ask.

2. Go through all your notebooks and notes to see what is missing (check the grade book and assignment pages) and replace those missing handouts, quizzes or notes. If you have been excused from a quiz, ask the teacher for a blank copy because you never know if those questions could be on the exam. Organize your notebooks by chapters, clipping all the material for each chapter together and putting it in a file for that subject in your room where you work. It is unnecessary to carry around old work; it just increases the chances of losing it.

3. Once you know you have all the material for every chapter since the beginning of the semester, methodically start reviewing old chapters. A month out from exams (which is about where we are right now) “smart students” make themselves a calendar with all the things they have to do (scheduled tests, sports, social activities) and then according to their homework load, they work in review time of earlier chapters in small chunks. They schedule time on the weekend for reviewing; “Sunday I will work on that history chapter I didn’t do well on right after lunch.” They do this because with all the spring activities, they know that suddenly it will be the week before exams. This is where test anxiety is born. Planning ahead and studying in short chunks avoids stress because the student feels in control.

4. Schedule sessions with tutors, peer tutors or study buddies now if you need more extensive help in an area. For example, there is a section of science, math or a book in English that you know you don’t understand, schedule an hour of help from someone who can teach you. Scheduling a help session gives you the structure to get something done, and it saves time to get instruction. The Teaching and Learning Center can assist you in finding someone to help you; just stop by and ask me.

Test anxiety can be avoided or at least significantly decreased if the student is well prepared ahead of time. That feeling of knowing the material the night before the exam and being able to get enough sleep is the formula for success! Any student can be in this position if they plan ahead and work in comfortable chunks of time starting now. “Smart” students plan ahead, have their materials in order, and study ahead of time. Any student can do this and be “smart,” too!