So it’s december which means us adorable high school children will be taking midterms. For freshman, you’re probably afraid and for seniors, you might have already gotten into college and you’re basically done. Either way, here’s some midterm studying advice from a senior who had senioritis since middle school.
Cannot stress this enough. At some point (a few weeks before your midterms) sit down and organize all your papers. Throw out stuff you don’t need and make sure to keep track of handouts and old tests (you’ll need those later). If you do this early enough, you’ll end up studying more. We all had those days where we’re so ready and motivated to study but then we realize how much organizing and work has to be done in order to actually do the studying and nothing gets done.
I like to have a folder or binder specifically for midterms. I put review packets (from the teacher or from online), review sheets (that I made from my notes) and old tests for each class inside so when I need to study for midterms, all I need is that binder.
2. Think about your studying style
Since it’s half way through the year, you can think now about how you like to study. Each class is different so think about what each one demands. You might learn better from practice problems, flashcards, rewriting notes, etc. By figuring out how you need to go about studying for each class, it’ll help you plan out a schedule.
3. Think about the teacher’s testing style
This might not apply if your midterm isn’t written by your teacher. If your teacher does write your midterm, think about what kind of questions they usually ask on tests. Are they more vocab or conceptual? This will probably carry over to the midterm and will help you know what to expect on exam day.
4. Ask your teachers questions
Ask them about the format of the test (multiple choice? short answer?). If they’re willing/allowed to tell you, ask them about what topics are the most important. Usually your teachers will tell their classes this kind of info without anyone asking (mine do) but sometimes if you go to extra help and show that you’re a strong student who is really putting in the effort to do well they might sneak you some hints about the test (or they might by accident).
For midterms and finals I have a specific ritual that I follow while I’m studying. I get out my midterm binder (mentioned in the first tip) and sit in my sunroom on the couch under a blanket (my pink princess one). While I study I binge watch The Office and drink green tea. I know a lot of study tips tell you not to watch TV but I find it helpful because I can judge how much time it’s been without checking the clock every few seconds. Because I’ve already seen the episodes multiple times and because it’s a show that you don’t really need to pay attention to the plot, I find that it’s not very distracting. Find what works for you and keep it consistent so you’re brain starts to associate those things with study mode (every time I watch the office while sitting on that couch I feel the need to have a book open and study even when I don’t need to).
Sit down. Put your phone away. Open your books. Study. This is the most important part.
I wish you all the best on your exams. Go study!
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