Congratulations! You’re officially halfway done with your first semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Now that you’re getting back into the swing of things, you may find that many tests are coming up for the midterms. Many of you- especially freshmen- might need some help coming up with creative ways to study for these tests. That’s why I’ve put together a list of the 5 best ways to study for your midterms.
- Good Old Fashioned Flashcards
Flashcards may not be the first to come to mind, but they are quite useful for helping you actively recall important information. Flashcards stimulate the memory, helping you memorize everything you need for that scary test.
- Study What You’re Re-reading
If you’re getting ready to write an essay about a book, one thing you might think of doing is just re-reading the book or skimming through it. But in reality, you need to do a little more than just that to really know what’s going on in the book. Take the time to make more annotations as you re-read, write important notes down on a separate sheet of paper, and even set aside quotes you want to include in your report. Don’t just skim through! When you fully engage in the book, you’re remembering what you’re reading and not skipping over any important information.
- Set Study Goals
When you sit down to study for a test, you might not even know where to start. That’s why it’s helpful to set goals before you start. Write down the main things you want to look at and practice, the amount of time you want to spend studying, or anything you think would help you be more productive. It’s important to have a plan before you start so you don’t forget what you want to study or lose hope and quit.
- Go to a Quiet Space to Study
When you’re studying, it helps to be away from distractions and background noise. That’s why you go somewhere that’s quiet. If you can’t find a quiet place at home, you can always go to the public library or the library here at CLS. The importance of a quiet study space is that when you’re in a calm environment, you can engage deeply with the activity- which, in turn, helps you to learn more intensely. Also, you are able to focus, and you’re more likely to get more work done and accomplish all of the study goals you may have set.
- Talk to Your Teacher!
Your teachers are always there and ready to help, so ask questions! If you have gotten stuck on or confused about anything, have questions about the rubric, or even need some one-on-one study time, don’t be afraid to ask. If there’s one thing you don’t understand and you can’t figure it out on your own, you need to get help or else you might fail that part of the test-or get a lower grade. It’s important to not be ashamed to have questions. That’s what teachers are there for.
