Everyone would agree that even the smartest kid sitting at the back of the class, at one time or another, has crammed for an exam. Hell, you’re not normal if you haven’t crammed at least once in your life.
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There were instances when I could not and would not absorb anything I’ve been reading because I was too much worried about failing the exam. Of course, if I focused more on actually studying than worrying about studying, I wouldn’t have had to worry in the first place.
If you’re feeling the same way to before a major long exam, and I’m sure you are, I’m going to share with you what I had to do to have an effective study habit: MURDER.
Yes, at some point in our life, we have to commit MURDER in order for us to survive, and in this case, school.
Mood:
As I’ve mentioned earlier, if I’ve actually focused on studying rather than worrying, my nights “studying” could’ve actually been productive. This just shows that focusing on possible failure isn’t going to help you motivate. Instead, try to relax and clear your mind of anything else but your subjects to study. You have to be comfortable enough to study—not to sleep and you have to calm yourself.
Understand:
A marker would come in handy because you need to highlight stuff that you do or don’t understand.
Recall:
Don’t ready everything else in one run. You got to stop at intervals and recall if you’ve really understood what you’ve just read.
Digest:
If a concept or a definition still seems vague to you, you can further look it up on the Internet or your other classmates who might be of help. Remember, no one’s perfect so if you don’t understand something, it’s ok to ask for help.
Expand:
In studying, the best way to really understand a concept is if you could connect it with your life or previous lessons. In understanding something, you are triggered of a memory of something else and you will be able to connect it with what you’re studying. Therefore, later on it will be easier for you to remember the things you’ve studied because there’s already a connection that you’ve established.
Review:
Don’t sit back and relax after only a night of studying. You have to review the parts that are most important, like the ones you’ve highlighted, so you won’t be able to forget them easily and you really absorb the topics not just for the sake of the coming exam, but really because you want to learn something.
So whether your motivation is a high grade on a long exam or the highest honor in the school, don’t forget to commit MURDER every time.
