Find some practice problems. Some good places to look are your textbook, on pages you didn’t do in class or homework, or the review section in the back of the book. A study guide would be ideal for this as well. If you don’t have anything to give you practice problems, you may have to write your own. Though this is more time-consuming, it may help you learn the concept. To write a practice problem, after all, you have to have some understanding of the concept or formula.
After you get stuck, use your notes to work through the problem. Graded homework is another good place to find solutions to problems like the one you’re working on.
Repeat this process until you have mastered the concept.
Organize the practice test like you did your notes. Have a subheading with each concept or chapter, then give 2-3 practice problems.
Be aware that it’s very difficult to cram for a test that asks you to discuss the importance of themes and overarching concepts, as that isn’t something you can quickly quiz with flashcards. Try to formulate some “big picture” questions and come up with answers to them. For example, if you’re studying for a History exam, you could try a question like this: “What are a few of the contributing factors to the start of the American Revolution?” Then, list some factors and how they helped start the war.
For a history test, look for names, dates, eras, organizations, political movements, etc. For an English test, write down characters, authors, years, major works, literary movements, etc.
Draw a straight line in the middle of a piece of paper. Write a name or date on the left side, and what you need to know about it on the other. Fold the paper in half and only look at one side at a time. This is an easy way to quiz yourself.
A few examples of vocabulary sets are kitchen and dining, transportation, and animals. Some examples of grammatical units are irregular verbs, past tense, or adjective endings.
A way to make this even easier for your brain to associate a concept with its word in a foreign language is with drawings. For example, if you’re trying to learn die Gabel, German for fork, drawing a fork on one side rather than the English word fork may help you connect the concept to the German word.
Make sure you are pronouncing the word correctly. Some languages are easier for beginners to learn the intonations than others, but your teacher will respect that you have done your best for your skill level. Speaking out loud in the language will also help you with circumlocution. This is the ability to find ways to describe what you want to say if you can’t remember the word. For example, if you can’t remember the word fork, saying something like “this is a small kitchen tool that is not a spoon or a knife, that you use to eat chicken. ” Your teacher may not give you full credit, but may be impressed with your ability to use the language to describe what you mean.
Look at any information the teacher has given you about the test: study guides, the syllabus, etc. Divide your time according to each unit or chapter you’re responsible for knowing. If one is much bigger than another, adjust your time accordingly. Jot down where to find book chapters and personal notes for each chapter. If you know ahead of time what concepts you need to learn, jot them down quickly so you have a goal for each section.
If you don’t have a desk or workspace, try a kitchen or dining room table. Couches may be a comfortable place to work, but they may be too comfortable. If you find yourself less alert studying on a sofa, move to a table.
