These Are the Best Ways to Prepare for Final Exams
Finals season is here, and if you’re anything like me, you’re feeling overwhelmed and suddenly unsure that you’ve retained any of the information from any of your classes. Of course you kept it – it’s just stress. You can combat stress by exercising effectively, but you need a plan to do so. I’ve spent months finding great study and memorization methods, and the ones below are the best for finals.
Best Methods for Teaching Reading Comprehension
The first step to learning is to assimilate new information. You cannot question or understand something you have never even read or heard before. Even the first time you read it (or the first time you view the material outside of class), you should be strategic. Try these methods.
SQ3R method
Use the SQ3R method when you are learning unfamiliar information or reviewing information for which you lacked context in class. “SQ3R” stands for Question , Question , Read , Review and Review . First, you skim your text (ideally one chapter in a book) and ask questions based on headings, captions, headings, or other notable elements. These questions should be about what you would like to know and what the titles you learn seem to promise. Then you read carefully, looking for answers to your questions, and recite, rewriting what you learned in your own words, trying to answer your own questions. Finally, review your own notes and the material itself.
KVL method
KWL is similar to SQ3R, but a little simpler: you create a chart with three columns: “Knowing,” “Wanting to Know,” and “Learning.” It’s best to create a separate table for each chapter or piece of information you’re working with. In the “I know” column, write what you already know about the topic. In the “Want to Know” column, write down what you would like to know (based on an overview of the material, including titles, headlines, captions, diagrams, and summary paragraphs). On your second, more thorough reading, write down what you learn in the “Learn” column, remembering to mark all the answers to the questions you asked in the “Want to Know” section.
Thieves Method
The THIEVES method will help you understand what a chapter is about before you even start reading it. “THIEVES” means title , headings, introduction , every first sentence of a paragraph, visuals /vocabulary, end-of-chapter questions , and summary . Create a chart or write down each of these categories on a piece of paper, and then go through each one in order, starting with the title. What can you guess from the title of this chapter? Write this down along with everything else you glean from the title. What do the headings say and why did the author divide them this way? Review the list before and as you read, paying attention to items identified by abbreviations.
The Best Ways to Remember What You Study
Memorization is very important for passing the test. You ‘d like to truly master the material and understand it inside and out, but that lofty goal isn’t always achievable if you’re taking five major tests in one week. Sometimes just remembering should be good enough.
Loci method
The Method of Loci is a good option if you’re going to take the test in the same place where you learned what it says, whether that’s in a specific classroom or in your own bedroom for an online class. You can think of a place where you will take the test , or just a place that you know very well, but there should be some defining features, such as a room with a lot of items or a street that you frequent. When studying a bunch of things you need to remember, imagine putting them one by one in one of these little places . For example, one topic might be on a tray of whiteboard markers, another on the professor’s desk, and a third on the windowsill. When you want to retrieve or remember information, imagine walking through that place again and taking what you need to remember from the right place.
Association
Use associations to remember large amounts of information. Whether you prefer mnemonic devices like acronyms or paint a “mental picture” of something silly to represent information you need to know, these associations can cement a fact or idea in your brain well enough for you to remember them during the test.
Leitner system
Leitner’s system is the best way to incorporate active memorization into your learning, but it takes some time. You create flashcards, then practice them on a schedule, sorting them into one of five categories each time you get them right or wrong. Every time you get a card from stack 1 correctly, move it to stack 2, which you won’t study as often as cards from stack 1. Follow the link above for a full explanation, but know that this is the best way to -Really remember everything you need to know.
Best Study Methods for Understanding Concepts
If you have time, it’s always worth truly understanding the material rather than just memorizing it. This is where these methods come in handy: they allow you to really delve into subjects, make connections to the real world, and cement information in your brain.
Feynman method
Use Feynman’s method when you’re done reading, reviewing, and memorizing. It encourages you to explain the topic at hand to someone who doesn’t know anything about it, like your mom or your roommate. Explain it as simply as possible and give them the opportunity to ask follow-up questions when you’re finished. If you can explain it simply and answer the questions, you really know your stuff. If you can’t, go back to studying until you can.
Burning out
Blert is similar to Feynman’s method, except you can do it yourself. After reading and watching, hide your notes and texts, and then write down everything you can remember on a blank sheet of paper. Explain the topic as best you can, and then use your materials to check anything you missed. This helps with memory recall, but it also gives you an easy way to see exactly what you’re missing, so you can double down on the specific elements that are confusing you.