How to Cram for Exams
May 12, 2008 – 6:00 am by Nick
In the 1977 movie Oh God!, Georges Burns, playing God, quips to John Denver about creating the world, “to tell you the truth I thought about it for 6 days and did the whole thing in 1.”
We have all crammed for tests because there is nothing like the pressure, imposed by an approaching final exam. We have slapped together a quick guide for students, who want to maximize their cramming before an exam.
- Go to all review sessions or classes before the exam - Teachers spill the beans on many questions during these extra classes. Ask questions! You must find out what is on the exam and possible questions.
- Study the lecture notes - Most teachers only ask questions on material covered in class. Class notes are a gold mind.
- Past exams or practice tests will help you evaluate yourself and discover the kind of questions the teacher poses.
- Contemplate possible questions - With past exams and a review session under your belt, you can easily envision the topics and questions that will be presented you on the final. You must also take into account the length and time of the exam. Work towards being prepared for these questions.
- Cheatsheet - Write all important definitions, graphs and equations. This will allow you to memorize these key points quickly. Do no bring the cheatsheet to the test.
- Textbook Summaries - Most textbooks offer summaries at the end of each chapter.
- Sleep - At least 3-5 hours of sleep is needed. Do not go without sleep. You will only forget most of the topics. Try to finish your studying before sleeping, and review everythin, when you wake up.
- Test yourself - Attempt past exams and review questions to find your points.
- Take a 15 minute break every hour.
- Stay away from computers or any electronics: Avoid all distractions, especially the Internet.
- Fuel the Cramming: Caffeine aids mental alertness, while tea improves concentration. Take in mind a crash follows too much caffeine consumption. Drink plenty of water rehydrate. Try to eat light healthy food, and do not just load up on junk food.
- Take a ten minute walk, before the exam, to gather your thoughts and relax.
- Infinite memory - Their is not a limit of how much your brain can remember. Try several memorizing techniques if you get stuck (read aloud, rewrite,…).
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