It's officially midterm season!
Who doesn't love a good test that counts for a huge percentage of your final grade?
Amid all the last minute cramming of compiled information, dozens of cups of coffee to stay awake into the late hours, and notecards literally everywhere, we (most of the time) come out victorious.
The road to getting there, however, isn't always so pretty. Here are the stages of studying for a college exam.
1. When your teacher reminds you that the dreaded day is a week away and you decide to be proactive and start studying then.
You may write in your planner the word "study" in all caps each day leading up to the test, but you know you won't start until the very last minute.
2. Finally getting around to studying and having a brief panic attack after seeing all of the information you need to know.
On the odd chance you actually have a study guide, looking at the 11 pages of sample questions alone induces anxiety. On the other hand, not knowing what you're going into is terrifying. I know the professor said to just look at our notes, but what does that really even mean?!
3. Working really hard for about thirty minutes, and then getting distracted by your phone or friend.
Studying with your friend is really awesome and makes it a little more fun. You don't feel so alone in the cramming process and have someone to quiz you. Only problem is when one of you gets off topic, you both do. It's a twisted cycle. Plus because you're both so crazed from the adrenaline and doubt you're often slap happy, and things can get weird.
4. Setting aside a fifteen minute break and then having it turn into a forty-five one.
5. Going back to the books and realizing some of this information actually stuck.
That boost of confidence propels you forward to keep going. You may only be 25% done, but knowing that 25% on your test is good enough, right?
6. Getting into the groove of it and becoming so absorbed in studying that you don't realize the light has changed outside.
Whether you started at 3pm and worked until 10, or started at midnight and worked until dawn, it's quite easy to lose track of the hours.
7. Hitting a wall.
Some of this stuff you just don't get. Why didn't you start studying earlier, why didn't you ask more questions, why weren't you born with a photographic memory? Having a serious freak out after a long block of studying, especially if that long block wasn't particularly successful, is totally normal. Tests are stressful, and they bring up a lot of anxiety. In this case, take some deep breaths, step away from the books, and relax a little bit. You can go back and study later, but no test is worth losing your mind over.
8. Reviewing the information in one last desperate attempt to have it all stick in your brain.
Once I read that if you chew gum while studying and then chew the same type when you're taking the test, you will remember the information better. Let's admit it- we've all tried some crazy methods to retain knowledge. Do they actually work? Probably not. But at least we feel more secure now that we have a "back-up".
9. Needing a serious caffeine boost right before to get pumped up.
After that late night of cramming and working hard, you deserve a treat. You definitely didn't get the recommended 8 hours of sleep that night but your focus has got to be on point. When in doubt, caffeine it out.
10. Walking in there with nothing to lose.
*queue Cheetah Girls music* You got to strut like you mean it, free your mind. It's not enough just to dream it, come on, come on. Get up when you feel it, it's your chance to shine. Strut like you mean it, come on, come on, come on.
11. Absolutely slaying that exam.
When you feel like you actually know what's on the test, it's the best feeling in the world. So you may not know some of them, you got the majority of it. I know I can't be the only one that tries to calculate what my score will be if I don't get those questions I'm unsure of...
12. Giving the test a good luck glance as you turn it in and then walking away a free person.
That's it!!! You did it!!!!
13. Realizing you have another test that week.
#college
PSA: Here are some helpful links to study tools and ideas for how to study just so you have them.
http://www.factmonster.com/homework/studyskills4.h...
http://greatist.com/happiness/better-study-tips-te...
https://www.goconqr.com/en/examtime/blog/study-hac...
GO GET EM!!
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