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You’ve got some big exams coming up, and you’re ready to give them all you’ve got. But how can you make the most of your study time in the days and weeks before your tests? We’ve got your back. Keep reading for plenty of tips and tricks to help you take your studying and test-taking skills to the next level, so you can do your very best on your upcoming exams.

1

Create a structured, consistent study plan.

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  1. Putting together a long-term study plan is an essential tool that helps you stay on top of your studies. Here are a few ways that you can get the most study potential out of each day: [1]
    • Phone alarms: Program an alarm or reminder for yourself so you remember when you’re supposed to study.
    • Calendars: Mark any upcoming quiz or exam dates on a calendar. Then, schedule your future study session before these dates.
    • To-do lists: Create a weekly or daily checklist to help you stay on top of your assignments and study obligations. This is a great way to stay focused on and on-topic during your study sessions.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 728 wikiHow readers and 67% agreed that their preferred way to organize studying time is by making paper revision timetables . [Take Poll]
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2

Find a productive place to study.

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  1. If you're not studying well in your current location, you might be better off moving to a new spot. There’s nothing wrong with switching study spaces if you aren’t able to concentrate on your study materials or don't have what you need nearby. [2]
    • Some people may like the soothing background chatter of a coffee shop, while others may prefer a silent corner of the library. Test out different study spots and see what works best for you!
    • Make sure that your desk is organized if you have one. Stack and organize any loose papers, and toss out or recycle anything you don’t need anymore. Try to keep all of your school supplies in designated places, too. [3]
    • Choose a study space that has good lighting as well as a comfortable place to sit.
5

Cater your study sessions to your learning style .

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  1. auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. These groupings are fairly self-explanatory—auditory learners study by hearing information spoken out loud; visual learners study best with special visual cues; and kinesthetic learners prefer hands-on study techniques. Explore your learning style by testing out different types of studying strategies. Here are a few ideas to get you started: [6]
    • Visual: Create a color-coding system for your class notes and/or represent information with diagrams
    • Auditory: Record and listen to yourself reading through your notes and/or chat about study topics with other students
    • Kinesthetic: Act out a scenario with another person and/or craft physical models
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6

Increase your understanding of the subject with visual aids.

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7

Memorize tough material with mnemonics.

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8

Incorporate multiple senses into your study sessions.

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10

Get the most out of your flashcards with a 5-box system.

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  1. Set aside 5 boxes that are large enough to hold stacks of index cards. Start with all of your flashcards in the first box—if you get the flashcard right, move it to the second box. If you get it wrong, leave it in the first box. Over the next few days and weeks, go through each box and move a card to the right if you get it correct. Continue reviewing the different flashcard boxes until all of the cards stay in box 5. Here’s a helpful timeline that you can follow: [11]
    • Review the cards in box 1 every day
    • Review the cards in box 2 every other day
    • Review the cards in box 3 every 4 days
    • Review the cards in box 4 every 9 days
    • Review the cards in box 5 every 2 weeks
    • If you forget the information on a specific card, move it to the previous box. For instance, if you answered a box 3 card incorrectly, you’d shift it over to box 2.
11

Teach the material to somebody else.

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13

Stay on-task during your study sessions.

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14

Sleep instead of cramming before the test.

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15

Skim through the exam before diving in.

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  1. Certain exams might have different sections, like multiple-choice, true or false, essay writing, and more. Once the clock starts ticking, flip through your test and get an idea of what you need to get done. Then, make a mental schedule for yourself so you can stay on task and on track throughout the test. [17]
    • If you have 2 hours to take your English final, you might spend 30 minutes on multiple-choice questions, 15 minutes on true or false questions, and 1 hour on the essay. Then, you could use the last 15 minutes however you need.
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Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I sharpen my mind before an exam?
    Nathan Fox, JD
    LSAT Teacher, Founder of LSATdemon
    Nathan Fox is an LSAT teacher, the co-host of the Thinking LSAT Podcast, and the co-founder of LSATdemon. Nathan is the author of six LSAT books including The Fox LSAT Logical Reasoning Encyclopedia. He scored a 179 on the February 2007 LSAT and holds a JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
    LSAT Teacher, Founder of LSATdemon
    Expert Answer
    Exercise, sleep, and a healthy diet are all important parts of test preparation. Also, take some time to unwind with activities that you enjoy.
  • Question
    How much time should students spend preparing for standardized tests?
    Nathan Fox, JD
    LSAT Teacher, Founder of LSATdemon
    Nathan Fox is an LSAT teacher, the co-host of the Thinking LSAT Podcast, and the co-founder of LSATdemon. Nathan is the author of six LSAT books including The Fox LSAT Logical Reasoning Encyclopedia. He scored a 179 on the February 2007 LSAT and holds a JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
    LSAT Teacher, Founder of LSATdemon
    Expert Answer
    Spend 3 months studying for a test like the LSAT. If you only study for a few weeks, you won't really know what you're capable of.
  • Question
    I want to get perfect scores, but I am always distracted by something. What can I do to improve my concentration?
    Community Answer
    Try to think about the subject you are on and make an effort to ignore everything else. Also, you can try to study for twenty minutes or so at a time, then take a short rest and then start studying again.
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