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The Daily OrangeMidterm stress turns into success with useful study tips
By Erica Rosenthal
Posted: 10/9/06, 9:57 PM EST Section: Feature
As midterms approach, students whip out their textbooks, notes and other materials to prepare. But different study strategies provide certain benefits and can help students earn those As. Dr. Marlene F. Blumin, associate professor of education and director of the All-University Study Skills Program, offered her advice on the most beneficial study strategies.
Study Tips:
1. If possible, begin studying for midterms no fewer than ten days before the test.
"I think one of the easiest ways is to summarize your lecture after each class and try to think of five test questions you think the professor is going to ask on that lecture," Blumin said.
2. Review by topic and not by source. Students should devote their time to studying each individual topic, rather than simply reading the book or lecture notes in order.
"The easiest thing to do is to create a topic outline that most professors have in their syllabus, and under each topic organize yourself by putting sources that are available to you regarding that topic," Blumin said.
3. Create an organized visual of the material to relate the information.
"Put it in a different form than when you read it or it was given to you in class," Blumin said. "The more you can put it in a meaningful way for yourself, the better you're going to learn it."
4. Create or join a study group to anticipate test questions.
"Say in order to join the study group for that week you have to come up with 10 test questions you think the professor is going to ask on the material that was covered that week," Blumin said. "Then share them and you will find that you anticipate many of the questions that will be on the test."
5. When short on time, students should spend the most effort studying topics that were highlighted throughout the course.
"Go first to the lecture notes to see what the professor emphasized," Blumin said. "Read the textbook chapters looking for the topics the professor emphasized. It's reading for a purpose."
Break up the studying. Do not study for more than a two-hour block on a specific topic.
Bottom line:
"Studying for exams consists of three things," Blumin said. "Organizing yourself, studying the information and then evaluating what it is that I know and what it is that I need to spend more time on."
On test day:
1. Relax and you will be more confident.
2. Eat and stay awake for awhile before the test.
3. Prepare yourself. Spend the majority of your time on parts of the test that are worth the most points.
4. Skim through the answers and automatically answer the ones you are sure of.
5. Take educated guesses.
Study Tips:
1. If possible, begin studying for midterms no fewer than ten days before the test.
"I think one of the easiest ways is to summarize your lecture after each class and try to think of five test questions you think the professor is going to ask on that lecture," Blumin said.
2. Review by topic and not by source. Students should devote their time to studying each individual topic, rather than simply reading the book or lecture notes in order.
"The easiest thing to do is to create a topic outline that most professors have in their syllabus, and under each topic organize yourself by putting sources that are available to you regarding that topic," Blumin said.
3. Create an organized visual of the material to relate the information.
"Put it in a different form than when you read it or it was given to you in class," Blumin said. "The more you can put it in a meaningful way for yourself, the better you're going to learn it."
4. Create or join a study group to anticipate test questions.
"Say in order to join the study group for that week you have to come up with 10 test questions you think the professor is going to ask on the material that was covered that week," Blumin said. "Then share them and you will find that you anticipate many of the questions that will be on the test."
5. When short on time, students should spend the most effort studying topics that were highlighted throughout the course.
"Go first to the lecture notes to see what the professor emphasized," Blumin said. "Read the textbook chapters looking for the topics the professor emphasized. It's reading for a purpose."
Break up the studying. Do not study for more than a two-hour block on a specific topic.
Bottom line:
"Studying for exams consists of three things," Blumin said. "Organizing yourself, studying the information and then evaluating what it is that I know and what it is that I need to spend more time on."
On test day:
1. Relax and you will be more confident.
2. Eat and stay awake for awhile before the test.
3. Prepare yourself. Spend the majority of your time on parts of the test that are worth the most points.
4. Skim through the answers and automatically answer the ones you are sure of.
5. Take educated guesses.
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