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Study Smarter,Not Harder
Getting ready for final exams
Your Jump Start Plan
The first step is deciding that studying is an important part of achieving success, and being motivated to do what it takes to reach your end goal.
There are four fundamentals of effective studying…
Your Jump Start Plan
Belief inYourself
Your Jump Start Plan
Preparation
Preparing a place to study
Find a study place; a place that is ideally only for studying Not your bed Not in the living room Not in the cafeteria or coffee shop The best place is a desk in your
bedroom, or in the basement, or anywhere you can find that is relatively free of distractions.
Your Jump Start Plan
Discipline
Making a Study Plan
Look at everything you need to cover during the exam period
Look at the dates of your exams and see how much time you will have before the exam to prepare
Divide up you study sessions appropriately
Once you have a plan, STICK TO IT!
Your Jump Start Plan
Activity
Myth Busters: Myths that can Destroy your Success
#1: “I study better with music on!” Goes along with other distractions
including TV, texting, messaging, talking on the phone, generally thinking you are a great multi-tasker (there is no such thing)
With all of these distractions while studying, you are making your brain work HARDER, not SMARTER
Myth Busters: Myths that can Destroy your Success
TURN THEM OFF! No iPod, radio, computer, TV, phone or
video games – 20 minutes really isn’t that long.
If you do not create this quiet environment for your brain to engage in learning, it will not matter what other study skills you put into practice.
Myth Busters: Myths that can Destroy your Success
#2: “I work better under pressure!” No one learns effectively during “cramming”
sessions for final exams. If you leave things to the last minute, there
are only two outcomes:• Abandoning all hope and giving up• Giving it your best shot in the short time left
The pressure might make you focus, but your brain needs more time to absorb.
Myth Busters: Myths that can Destroy your Success
#3: “I remember better if I just listen!” You need to have a record of what your
teacher says in class to help you study – How are you going to study without notes?
Writing notes forces you to think about what you are learning and remember it.
Writing engages your other senses. You are sitting in class anyways, why waste
time? A little effort now saves stress later.
Myth Busters: Myths that can Destroy your Success
#4: “Cheating isn’t a big deal!” You won’t learn anything – this does
mean something in the long run Eventually, everyone gets caught Character is mostly about what a person
does when they think no one is watching
So what are the FACTS?
So what are the facts?
Short, 20 minute study sessions are the most effective More “beginnings” and “ends” Retention from repetition Gives you short breaks (about 10
minutes) often, which may help keep you motivated to continue
So what are the facts?
Reading is not enough! It has been proven that you only have
a 25% retention rate when you only read your notes/textbooks
Everything else you do increases that retention rate substantially
So what are the facts? DIVERSIFY! Passively looking at the words on a page is
what most people do and never go beyond. You must be active by… Reading aloud to yourself or a partner Teaching the material to someone Making up a rhyme Rewriting key ideas in your own words Drawing a picture/diagram
So what are the facts?
So what are the facts?
Recopy your class notes/copy from texts/make cue cards/etc.
Ask yourself pertinent questions Make connections and associations Make it weird…?
So what are the facts?
Recopy your class notes/copy from texts/make cue cards/etc.
Ask yourself pertinent questions Make connections and associations Make it weird…?
All these activities require your mind to work with the material, reorganize it, and, in the process, make it part of you. As long as you are a passive studier, the information will
So what are the facts?
The Repetition Effect The more you repeat what you want to
embed in your long-term memory, the better you will remember it.
Associations, weirdness, specificity, and activity mean nothing if you do not drill yourself in the things you want to remember.
Ex: How do you remember a song?
So what are the facts? CHUNK MATERIAL! Try to organize the material so common
elements are reviewed together. It is easier to memorize five headings with
five items each than to try and cram 25 seemingly unrelated pieces of data into your long-term memory.
There won’t always be a pattern, but the act of analyzing the lists in search of patterns will help you memorize
So what are the facts?
Summarizing This is one of the most important tools
in effective studying When you summarize, not only are you
going over the information again (repetition), but you are forced to determine which information is MOST important for your exam
So what are the facts?
Summarizing… This also allows you to “make it
personal” by putting it in your own words and making it more meaningful to you
Excellent way to summarize key info? Make yourself a “mock” test or exam.
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Do you get overly stressed before and during test or exam situations?
Overcoming Test Anxiety Everyone experiences a certain level of
stress when placed in these kinds of situations – there is a healthy, productive level of stress.
When the stress reaches too high a level, it is counter-productive – it causes your brain to essentially “shut down” (applies to studying and exams)
If this describes you, you are not alone. Many students suffer from anxiety, but there are strategies and tools you can use to help feel more at ease during these times…
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND
“I can do it!”
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND
“I can do it!” Picture yourself being successful
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND
“I can do it!” Picture yourself being successful Avoid talking with peers who feel they
are under prepared, express negativity about the test or exam, etc.
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND
“I can do it!” Picture yourself being successful Avoid talking with peers who feel they
are under prepared, express negativity about the test or exam, etc.
Try to remain calm and focused on the task that is coming up
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE PREPARED AND DISCIPLINED!
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE PREPARED AND DISCIPLINED!
Going into an exam feeling confident about your knowledge of the material is essential to your success
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE PREPARED AND DISCIPLINED!
Going into an exam feeling confident about your knowledge of the material is essential to your success
Arrive early (by at least 10 minutes) in case there are any issues that arise
Overcoming Test Anxiety BE PREPARED AND DISCIPLINED!
Going into an exam feeling confident about your knowledge of the material is essential to your success
Arrive early (by at least 10 minutes) in case there are any issues that arise
Come with all of the materials you will need (pencils, eraser, calculator, dictionary, geometry set, water, etc.)
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Overcoming Test Anxiety GET YOUR BODY READY!
Overcoming Test Anxiety GET YOUR BODY READY!
Get a good night’s sleep…
Overcoming Test Anxiety GET YOUR BODY READY!
Get a good night’s sleep… Eat breakfast in the morning
Overcoming Test Anxiety GET YOUR BODY READY!
Get a good night’s sleep… Eat breakfast in the morning Bring snacks for throughout the day
Overcoming Test Anxiety GET YOUR BODY READY!
Get a good night’s sleep… Eat breakfast in the morning Bring snacks for throughout the day If you are already inclined to feel
anxiety, your body requires these basic needs to keep you balanced and focused
No matter what your present level of learning ability and achievement may be…
YOU CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE!
NEED HELP?
See teachers at lunch for help Login to www.learnquebec.ca Get help from a tutor See Mr. Rosseel or Ms. Barnes in the
Guidance Office (Room 123) for anything that you need…
Remember Thomas Edison’s words…
“Many of life’s failures are those people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up”
YOUR EXAMS…
Make sure you have a copy of the exam schedule
Highlight/circle the exams you need to write
Check for conflicts Write it in your agendas
Good Luck on your EXAMS!
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