It's that time again. Whether you're lucky enough to have it over in one week or it has managed to consume two to three weeks of your life, midterms are here. Add in the stress from the semester so far and the fact that you suddenly have to recall a plethora of information you never thought to remember, and you have got yourself a full-blown breakdown to look forward to. Luckily, with three years of experience under my belt, I am here to help you navigate your time for the next week or two.
Here are some of the best ways to make it through midterms:
1. Make Study Guides
This is tedious, and in all honesty you can get by without making them, but they are so incredibly helpful that it is worth it. If you can get all the information that you need to know onto one document, instead of scribbled in your notebook or spread over a handful of the professor's powerpoints, it is a lot easier to study and you are less likely to miss any information. Not to mention the process of having to type out all the information forces you to look at all of it, and can help you remember even more.
2. Take Breaks
We all get tired and we all get bored when we have to sit and stare at information for too long, so give yourself a break. Go get coffee and food and relax, watch an episode of a show on Netflix, or even meet up with friends for a little while. Coming back with fresh eyes and restored energy will help you retain more information.
3. Change Locations
I don't know about you, but I cannot study or do work in my dorm. It opens up too many opportunities to procrastinate. For that reason, I have found that I get work done much better if I find a cute coffee shop or café to sit in. In most cases they are relatively quiet, and there is easy access to coffee and food to keep you energized. This also helps to alleviate the feeling that you are being cooped inside all day during exam time. Rather than spending days trapped in your room staring at a computer screen, going out and finding the perfect place to work allows you to get more done.
4. Go Over Old Quizzes
Professors have patterns. If you have taken quizzes or tests in the class before, look over them and try to understand how the professor asks questions. Are they more general? Do they focus on very specific points? Do you need to know lists? Once you realize how the professor likes to ask questions, it makes it easier to study because you know what to look for and what information you should focus on.
5. Explain it to Someone Else
This has always worked extraordinarily well for me. The best way to learn or understand a tricky concept is to teach it to someone else. It forces you to make sure you know what you're talking about. Not to mention, saying it out loud will help you to remember the information as well.
Don't let midterms run your life. Binge Netflix, go out, and don't panic! It will be over before you know it and you can pretend it never happened.
