Posted by If you are looking for techniques that will help you cram for your exam, then you have come to the right place. We have assorted the best tips and strategies for you to use when it comes to cramming for an exam, and each idea has been certified by a countless number of students to work across the world.
The most important thing to do when attempting to cram for a test or exam is to not panic, and have a well laid-out plan to help you achieve success.
It should be said that you ideally do not want to get into the situation of cramming to begin with, but fortunately millions of students every year find themselves staying up very late into the night and morning before their exams. You are not alone in this, and there are a few things that you can do to make the most out of your situation.
How to cram for your exam: what to avoid
Before we dive into the main content of this article, we’ll first go over a couple of things to avoid when you are attempting to cram or rush your studying. When it comes to cramming, there are almost as many things to avoid doing as there are actual techniques to help you succeed.
Before you begin your cramming sessions, keep these common mistakes in mind.
- Avoid Distractions: There is no shortage of distractions that will stop you from cramming effectively. These distractions can be as innocent as having music playing in the background, or casually checking your Facebook feed and notifications. Our advice is to commit 100% of your focus and concentration to the task at hand, as your mind can really only focus on thing at a time.
- Don’t try to do everything at once: Although you are cramming for an important test or assignment, it’s still important to be intelligent with how you manage your time and workload. What this means is that you should allow yourself ample time to go through each unit that will be covered in your test, and to pay extra attention to the core curriculum of what you’ll be tested on. If you jump around a lot during your cramming sessions, it’s unlikely that you will be able to retain the key information and ideas that will help you succeed.
- Forget Procrastination: If you have made it to the point where cramming is your only option, procrastination is no longer a luxury that you have. After all, it’s likely that your procrastination is the reason for why you found yourself in this situation to begin with, and now you are feeling the pressure and leverage you need in order to get going.
How to cram for your test: our best tips
Now that we have covered the three deadly mistakes and what to avoid while attempting to cram, we’ll now go over our best tips and strategies that you can use immediately to get a high mark on your test.
- Study in the morning: Your mind works best for complicated tasks early in the morning, and you may find that you attention span and ability to remember key information will gradually taper off the later it gets in the day. You should make the most of your peak times during the day, getting as much studying out of the way as possible in the first 4 hours that you wake up.
- Use a timer: The best way to ensure that every minute counts while you are studying is through using a timer to keep track of your actual study time. Many students who sit down for long cramming sessions believe that they have worked for the entire duration, only to find out that most of that time was spent procrastinating or wasting their time. Set a timer for 15, 30 or 60 minute blocks of time and take regular breaks between your study intervals. You’ll find that the quality of your work will increase dramatically.
- Exercise Regularly: It should be obvious that there’s a direct correlation between the health of one’s body and your mental performance. If you work out between your study sessions, this will cause your stress levels to drop, as well as improving the quality of your thinking. Even doing something as simple as going for a quick walk or doing some push ups will have a dramatic effect on your studies.
- Have a power nap: If you can’t find the time to rest for a full eight hours per day, you can always have a power nap of roughly 15 to 20 minutes. These short rests will allow your brain to rejuvenate and retain the information that you have studied for previously.
- Help others cram or study in a group setting: One of the best ways of reinforcing our own learning and understandings is by teaching it to others. If you have the time, find a group of students who are interested in studying with you. You’ll be able to share and get feedback on your idea, and you can do the same with them. Most schools, colleges, and universities have a platform for this to happen already.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading our guide on how to cram for an exam. We’re sure that you will find something in this article that you can put into practice right away to get the most out of your study times.
If you are still unsure about what kind of technique will work best for you, experiment. Each person’s reaction to the above techniques will differ, and some will work better than others.
If you experiment with a load of different strategies, you’ll be able to rotate between the best methods that work for you, as well as providing you with a keen insight about how you learn and retain information as an individual.
There may be other techniques that you can discover by contacting your teacher or lecturer, and they might be able to put you in touch with other students who are in the same situation as you are.