Freshmen Advisory
Study Skills Module
Activity 10
Preparing For Exams
Improve Study Skills
Review Regularly
Plan To Study Ahead
Avoid studying only before the
night of an exam
Study Habits
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Decide what to study (reasonable task)
and how long or how many (chapters,
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pages, problems, etc.). Set and stick
to deadlines.
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Do difficult tasks first. For procrastination,
start off with an easy, interesting aspect
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of the project.
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Have special places to study. Take
into consideration lighting, temperature, and
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availability of materials.
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Study 50 minutes, and then take a 10
minute break. Stretch, relax, have an energy
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snack.
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Allow longer, "massed" time periods
for organizing relationships and concepts,
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outlining, and writing papers. Use
shorter, "spaced" time intervals for rote
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memorization, review, and self-testing.
Use odd moments for recall/review.
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If you get tired or bored, switch task/activity,
subject, or environment. Stop studying
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when you are no longer being productive.
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Do rote memory tasks and review, especially
details, just before you fall asleep.
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Study with a friend. Quiz each other,
compare notes and predicted test questions.
Preparing for Exams
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Find out what the exam will or won't
cover.
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Find out what kind of exam it will
be: objective, short essay, long essay
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Prepare summary sheets for large amounts
of lecture and textbook notes.
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Spend several nights before an exam
making a final review of notes.
Stress the following areas
in your review:
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Points emphasized in class or
in the text
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Areas the professor has advised
for study
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Questions from study guides,
past quizzes, and reviews at end of
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textbook chapters
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Preparation by Type of Exam
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Objective exams: Study as if
it were an essay exam.
Stress specifics:
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Definitions of key terms and examples
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Lists of items
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For True/False, write some false statements
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Stress concepts
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List probable questions
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Prepare a good outline answer and practice
it
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Problem Exams
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Memorize formulas if needed
Practice problem