Study Tips: Before a Test

As a college student, I think most of us are always looking for better ways to study. Sometimes its really hard and you don't even know where to begin. Well today I have for you seven tips that should improve the way you study. And in case you're thinking "what does this freshman in college know about studying?" I have to admit these aren't really all my study tips. Most of them came from a professor at my university. Not only has he done research on this he was also a student himself and said these were helpful. And from the semester that I tried them out I have to agree! So here are some tips to get you studying smarter.

So this will definitely be the hardest to do, but also probably the most effective. When you take a "study break" to check your phone or Twitter or whatever you are taking your mind off the information you were just studying. So that when you go back to studying your brain has to restart and relearn all the information you were just studying. It's like all that you just studied didn't really happen. So my advice is to turn off your phone and tuck it away if you have trouble with your phone distracting you. If it is your computer then I suggest you get an app like Self Control to block certain websites while you study. Then you're not even tempted to check social media or whatever distracts you.

Yeah I know, this one sucks too but it makes a big difference. Your brain holds onto the information better when you sit down for hours at a time to study. It sort of goes back to the first tip. If you study in little amounts of time your brain doesn't grip onto the information very well. So plan out an hour or two at a time to study.

Don't start the night before a test, you're not really going to remember anything. Instead study for three straight nights leading up to the test. That way the information has time to stick and you've really drilled it into your head.

Our brains hold onto to information better when we use more of our senses to learn it. So don't just read, but also say things aloud and rewrite things. Find different ways to learn information then just reading.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. We associate beds with sleeping, not studying. So reading or studying in bed is distracting and will make you sleepier.

All this will do is tire you out when it comes time to take the test. Also you don't hold onto information very well while you're tired. Make sure you are well rested and ready to take the test the next day instead of sleepy and confused

Even if it isn't. Make sure you know the difference between concepts. Don't just memorize the definitions. Be able to explain why two things are different from one another. If you are able to write an essay about something and explain it then you know the information.

Hope this was helpful and you ace all of your exams!

xoxo Lauren