R. Craig Collins >Common
> How To: Study
How To: Study ©
R. Craig Collins, 2005/2020
Most learning is easiest to recall in a similar environment to where you learned
it… meaning if you only study at night, taking a test during the day, at a foreign
location, testing can be a problem.
To minimize this, follow the following guidelines.
- Don’t Cram
- Don’t load up on caffeine
- Don’t load up on sugar
- Don’t change too much of your routine
Cramming isn't learning, as the info just goes into short term memory, which evaporates
like RAM when you write your name on the test. Instead, try to really learn the
material by reviewing daily, and making a list of things that give you trouble.
Focus on those items, instead of confusing things you actually already know. The
next day, make a new list, which should be shorter, until you get to test day,
and your are comfortable with all the material. Do some gentle review around the
time of day you plan to take the test, to overcome the foreign testing situation
even further.
Some of you will still cram, though. You’ll stay up late, and then you’ll show
up at the testing center dead tired… don’t go get some coffee! Caffeine is actually
a depressant that will drop you after it gives you a case of hyper nerves.
But you’re still tired… (because your crammed, and didn't sleep) so if you can’t
have a coffee of cola, maybe your tempted to have a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts
for some quick energy, instead. DON’T! Sugar is muscle food, not brain food. You’ll
have plenty of energy to run to the testing center, but you will have diverted
blood flow away from your brain.
But what if you normally stay up until 3:00 am, get up to a gallon of coffee and
a box of Ding Dongs? Well, don’t break your routine… stay in routine as much as
possible… again, night owl may need to practice getting up a day or two before
the test.
Next, test taking is about decisions, here are a few tips on actually selecting
the right answer.
- Read the whole test… it is almost impossible to make a test that doesn't
reveal some answers somewhere else.
- Look for distracting items and keywords… distracting items are important looking words
that have nothing to do with what is really being asked. Keywords on the other
hand should alert you to the meat of the question.
- Go with your first reaction, it is usually right.
Finally, no one will care what you made on a test in five years… so don’t stress.
In a well designed class, a test is a learning tool, not punishment. It points
out where you still need work, and gives you the opportunity to actually do
what school is supposed to be about: learning!
Recall, your lowest test score can be improved by doing well on the Final.
Grade book