For most students around the nation — whether they are in high school, college or graduate school — final exams have already commenced or are right around the corner. During final exam week, students need to find the best way to effectively cram in a term’s worth of material they probably have no recollection of. Different students, of course, go about this in different way. And though there are some great ways to learn three months of biology in two nights, there are also some other way that just don’t work, no matter how much people tell you they do. Below is a list of some study methods that simply won’t reap any positive results.
1. Taking breaks
Yes, I know. You’ve been told a thousand times that to effectively study, you must consistently take small break — no! If you think rationally about it, taking breaks makes no sense. You are literally trying to learn as much material as possible in a very short amount of time, so doesn’t taking a break just seem like a waste of your precious time? Yes. I know, some will make the argument that taking breaks keeps you focus. That argument, however, is even more flawed. If staring at Facebook for 20 minutes while you should be studying is considered “focused,” well, um, OK.
2. Sleeping with a book under your pillow
Just by reading that, you probably think, “What?” But as you reflect back on what you’ve heard over the years, you may remember that someone told you that. Obviously, it doesn’t work. But what would be a better way to help you study? One solution is to put the book directly on your face. That way, the words will slowly diffuse into your brain while you sleep.
3. Going to bed early rather than continuing to study
“Sleep is very important for your learning and your growth as a person and a study,” your administration probably preaches. Yes, sleep is good for you — assuming you have time for it. But when you have a chemistry exam tomorrow, and you suddenly blank on what stoichiometry even is, then it’s probably not a good idea to go to bed, despite that it’s already 2:45 A.M. Yes, you’ll get more sleep, but on the test tomorrow, you’ll get half of the problems wrong.
4. Rereading your whole textbook
This may be essential if you never read your textbook in the first place, but assuming you've been keeping up with the readings, there should be no reason for you to have to reread your textbook, just your notes. Of course, going through your textbook again may be a fun waste of your time if you have one of those textbooks with many random picture. It will better serve you, however, to simply review your notes, well, given that you have notes.
5. Not studying because you hope the test will go well
"Don't worry about it! You'll do great, no need to study," is a phrase I'm sure many of us have heard from teachers and peers alike. While those saying it are trying to support you, that does not mean you should actually not study for the test. Of course, there is a need to study.
