Study Strategies

→ A Desktop Relaxation technique
→ Taking Tests
→ How to Cram

A Desktop Relaxation Technique

1. Relax your shoulders and sit comfortably with both feet on the floor.
2. Place your elbows on the desktop, lower your head, close your eyes, and cup the palms of your hands over your eyes.
3. In this position, slowly count to ten while you breathe deeply.
4. Empty your mind of all negative thoughts.
5. When you feel calm, continue taking the test.

Taking Tests
1. What to do before a test

• As you begin
• Arrive early
• Do a relaxation exercise
• Pay attention to verbal directions
• Scan the whole test
• Evaluate the importance of each section
• Read the directions slowly, twice
• In margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, facts
• Create review tools
• Study checklists
• Mind maps, summary sheets
• Flash cards
• Plan a strategy
• Do a dry run
• Ask the instructor what to expect
• Get copies of old exams

2. What to do during the test

• Relax
• Answer easiest, shortest questions first
• Then answer multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank
• Use memory techniques
• Pace yourself
• Look for answers in other test questions
  True/False Questions
• Answer quickly
• Read carefully
• Look for qualifiers
• All
• Most
• Sometimes
• Never
• Rarely
• Absolute qualifiers often indicate false statements
• Always
• Never
Multiple-Choice Questions
• Check directions to see if more than one answer is called for
• Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choices
• Read all answers to each question before selecting one
• Your first instinct is usually best
• Use guessing techniques when appropriate
Open Book Test
• Write formulas you need on separate sheet
• Place Post-It notes or paper clips on important pages
• Number your class notes and write a short table of contents
• Prepare thoroughly
Short Answer & Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
• These often ask for definitions or short descriptions
• Concentrate on key words and facts
• Be brief
Essay Questions
• Find out precisely what the question is asking
• Make a quick outline
• Get right to the point
• Put the most solid supporting points first
• Write legibly
• Use a pen
• Be brief
• Use one side of the paper only

Ways to Predict Test Questions
• Get organized by having a separate section in your notebook labeled "test questions"
• Ask your instructor to describe the test
• Ask yourself: What questions would I ask?
• Save all quizzes, papers, lab sheets, and graded material
• Practice working problems using different variables
• Brainstorm test questions with other students
• Watch for clues from instructor during class
• Repeating certain points
• Writing information on the board
• Gestures
• Questions posed to students
• Extensively covering some material from readings

3. What to do after the test

Immediately following the test
• Write down "what worked" before and during the test.
• Write down any "suggestions for improvement" for the next test.
When the test is returned
• check to make sure the point totals add up correctly
• Ask yourself the following questions:
• On what material did the teacher base the test questions?
• What type of questions appeared in the test?
• What type of questions did I miss?
• Can I learn anything from the instructor’s comments to prepare for the next test?

Master Student - Houghton Mifflin

How to Cram

1. Make Choices.
1. Pick you a few of the most important elements of the course and learn them backwards, forward, and upside down.
2. Cramming time.
1. Spend 25% of your cramming time on learning new material and 75% of your cramming time on drilling yourself on that material.
3. Make a Plan.
1. Chose what you want to study.
2. Determine how much time you have to study.
3. Set timelines for yourself.
4. Recite until your nauseous.
5. Relax

Don’t say "I should have..."

Master Student - Houghton Mifflin