How To Study For Exams: Study Tips, Scientific Techniques & More!

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With the exams right around the corner (if they’ve not already begun), we are sure you are wondering how to study for exams. We all know the pattern of lazying around for most of the semester, only to run around like headless chickens to get everything done right before exams begin. Since students are going to be students, in this article, we have listed some top study tips for students, scientific techniques to help prepare for exams, and some tips for D-days.

We are sure you will find something to help beat the exam blues in the sea of techniques we have shared here. And even for those who have been preparing consistently, a few tips to give you the edge won’t hurt. So check them out!

How To Prepare For Exams?: 6 Basic Tips

If you are always worried about how to focus on studying for exams, then these six basic but important tips can help enhance the impact of your study sessions:

Organize The Study Space

When preparing for exams, the foremost thing is to organize a good study space. Where you study might not seem important, but it does make a world of difference. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Firstly, begin at least a week before exams — but the earlier you start, the better.
• The next study tip for students is to pick a place and time. Finding a good spot to study is critical for building concentration and quality learning. For example, if natural light energises you, pick a place with plenty of it.
• The place should be clutter and distraction-free.
  • Just because studying in a distraction-free zone is ideal doesn’t mean you cannot play any background music/ sounds. A lot of people prefer natural sounds as a backdrop when studying; if you also prefer that, then go for it.
  • However, one thing that you shouldn’t have is the TV (especially Netflix, etc.) turned on. Also, turn off the notifications on your phones or turn the silent mode on. 
• Lastly, set up your study area before starting the session. Keep everything you need, like water, snacks, coffee, etc., within reach so you don't have to get up mid-session and get distracted or off-track.

Self-Review & Map Out a Study Plan

Prepping the study area is just the first step in knowing how to study for exams. Once you have prepped your study area, the next step is to review where you stand regarding exam prep. Knowing how to prepare for exams is about being aware of your preparedness level and mapping a study plan for the remaining exam. Here are a few pointer study tips for exams:

• Find your learning style: Everyone has a different studying style - some like to take notes, some don’t; some like to multitask, some don’t, and so on. It is best to figure out your studying style.
• The next study tip for exams is that it's important to understand the information you consume and not just cram it. Understanding will make both retention and recall easier.
  • One way to better understand what you read is to visualize what you study. You can use flowcharts, tables, and diagrams. Many students vouch for the flashcard approach to studying for exam preparation.

• Plan for your preference: Some people thrive in group settings. If you are one of these individuals, it is best to organize study groups with friends or use a buddy system.

Make the Most of Your Time

There is a multitude of time management advice showered on us from all sides when figuring out how to prepare for exams. That’s because time management is critical to succeeding in exams. You have to manage your time, especially when the clock is ticking. A few things to keep in mind are:

• Study in class because half the battle is already won when you concentrate in class and clear your concepts in the first go.
• Study daily, even if it is just for an hour. You can conduct daily revisions after class to improve the retention of information.
• When prioritizing your time, it is important to remember the power of saying no to things not directly related to your deliverable during exam season.

Set Goals & Stick It Out

• Most of us work extremely well and with more dedication when we have set goals in sight. It's true for studies as well. There are different ways of setting goals, such as day goals, lesson goals, etc. When setting goals for yourself, ensure that they are realistic and that you stick to them.
• Rewards drive all humans. One way to push yourself to sit through a study session and cover assigned material is by rewarding yourself at the end of the session. The reward can be something small like taking a break, watching an episode of your favorite show, etc.
• It is extremely important to stay consistent with your studies to stay on track and perform well in exams.

Exercise & Eat Healthily

Many students ignore or neglect their overall health during intense study sessions, especially during the exam season. Not getting enough exercise or a lack of fulfilling foods can make you feel lethargic and less energetic.

If you want to know how to prepare for exams, the answer might be getting your dose of exercise and eating right. Exercising and maintaining a healthy diet helps us stay energetic throughout the day and fulfill all our tasks. 

Knowing When To Stop

You must have heard of the saying that ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. This saying epitomizes how important it is to take proper breaks. 

• Stop before overloading yourself and unplug for a while to recuperate.
• There is a strong chance that you will burn out if you don't rest properly, so sleep on time. There is no way around it.
• It is also important to have fun in the midst of rigorous studying.
• Most importantly, don’t stress too much. Here are a few tips to remain productive in stressful situations. 

Now that we have covered the basics let’s look at a few scientifically proven techniques to help you become a quick learner and retain what you learn. These study tips for students have been proven effective by many. Have a look!

11 Scientific Study Tips For Students To Beat The Exam Blues!

Here are some scientifically proven techniques on how to study for exams and get the top grades:

Don't Push It In, Pull It Out!

A lot of the time, we are too focused on pushing more information into our brains. But the trick isn’t to push the info in but to pull it out.

Once you’ve gone through your lessons and covered all the concepts, take some time to absorb them. Then, try to pull out what you remember, i.e., RECALL. Psychologists call it the ‘retrieval method’. This is a proven method to capture the maximum amount of information. This improves your recall ability during exams and strengthens your overall memory.

Spaced Repetition Method

According to Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve, our memory fades over time no matter which study method we employ.

So, what’s the way around it? The answer is- spaced repetition/ retrieval.

Spaced repetition, as the term implies, is spacing out the learning and recalling process over time instead of going through it all in one sitting. For example, rather than spending 2 hours on a single topic in one day, study it for 1 hour on day one, 30 minutes in the next session, and 30 in another. The idea is to create space between learning sessions and still keep the topic fresh in your mind. Studies show that space learning positively influences neurons when it comes to learning and retaining new information.

Another technique that you must know of is absorbing information in small chunks, which has been proven to improve the retention rate of students. The base principles are similar to those of the spaced repetition method. 

Make Interactive Study Notes!

Everyone makes notes, but how effective are they? A lot of the time, when we are making notes, we just transfer information from the learning material to our notebooks/ docs. Most of the time, there is no real absorption or learning. Then, what can you do to make sure your notes are effective?

Rather than simply jotting down notes, make them interactive. Convert the points into questions and answers format. When you spend the effort into making this conversion, you understand the material better and retain more of it, and it's also easier to recall at the time of the exam.

This is an amazing study tip for exams that has been proven to be effective. Try it out now!

Study with Mnemonics

We are sure you must have heard of mnemonics at one point or another. In fact, we are sure you have used one of its techniques in the passed. No? Do you remember BODMAS? Yes, we are referring to Brackets Open, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction. We all have used it to learn one of the most popular principles in mathematics, which is a type of mnemonic strategy called acrostics. Amazing, right?

This goes to show that mnemonic techniques are actually effective. Multiple techniques come under the mnemonic head, like acrostics, acronyms, memory palace, peg word method, chunking, etc.

Bodmas is an example of an acrostic. An acronym, on the other hand, is a word formed from the first letters of other words in a phrase or list. Example: HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior) - Great Lakes of North America

Additional study tips for exams here would be to ensure that you don’t pick a technique that takes too much time to implement since you will already be pressed for time during exam season.

Blank Page Retrieval

In blank page retrieval, take a blank page, and once you have covered a topic, try to jot down all that you remember/ recall. Once you are done, go back to the study material and cross-check what you missed. Then go ahead and fill in the blanks (with a different color, for example) or add the missing information and revise the topic. Repeat this method until you can retain and recall most of the important information.

The idea is that every time you do blank page retrieval on a topic, the amount of information missing should be less than before. If that’s not the case, then you should rethink where you are going wrong. So the next time you want to know how to study for exams, give this technique a shot.

The Pomodoro Technique

You must have heard of this technique before, and why not, with the kind of effects this technique has? The Pomodoro technique follows a simple yet effective principle that applies to all spheres of life and all individuals, not just to those looking for how to focus on studying for exams. 

As per this technique, when you have a task at hand the best way to get it done is to break it down into smaller duration tasks. You then go on fulfilling these tasks while taking regular breaks. It is easier to focus and concentrate on any task for shorter durations. Knowing that you can take a break once the session is over reduces restlessness and anxiety, and pushes you to give your best for those few minutes. Read more about the Pomodoro technique here. 

The SQ3R Method

This is a reading comprehension technique, where the acronym stands for:

• Survey- start by skimming through the topic/ chapter while taking note of the key vocabulary/ standout features like headings, subheadings, diagrams, charts, tables, etc.
• Question- based on the information you gather, formulate questions and try to organize the information systematically.
• Read- at this step, read through the whole concept in detail.
• Recite- once you’ve skimmed, framed questions, and done an in-depth reading, the next step is to recite and memorize what you understood.
• Review- the last step is reviewing everything you’ve studied to solidify the lesson.

As a technique on how to study for exams, the SQ3R method has found takers across the globe.

The PQ4R Method

This approach is similar to the SQ3R method but with an additional step and a slightly different outlook. The acronym expands into-

• Preview- the first step calls for you to preview the topic and get a better understanding when why you are studying the subject.
• Question- this step entails asking yourself questions like what you want to learn from this topic, what you understand about the subject, etc.
• Read- once you’ve taken a bird-eye brief of the topic, perform a thorough read to get an in-depth view.
• Reflect- now is the time to reflect on what you have understood and try to find the answers to your questions from the second step. 
• Recite- at this point, you need to recite or write a summary of all that you have studied in your own words. If you feel you are missing out on some information, then re-read that section.
• Review- this is the last step of the method, where you review/ revise everything and try to internalize it.

This is one of those study tips for students that provides a completely rounded approach to learning, making it easier to retain information.

Information/ Mind Mapping

Information mapping, as many of you must be familiar with, is frequently on the list of study tips for students because it helps visualize information in a concise manner, thus increasing the chances of retention. 

• To prepare a mind map for a topic you are studying, begin by writing down the topic at the center of the page/ document.
• Now, jot down all the keywords and concepts while mapping how they relate to the main topic.
• The benefits of this technique are that it improves your reading comprehension, helps you see the bigger picture, and makes recall easier.

Form Connections

This technique, as the name suggests, is all about forming a connection between the information you study. But why do you need to form connections?

Well, it is simply because creating a connection between topics, subtopics, co-topics, etc., facilitates holding onto the information for a longer period of time.

The connections also make it easier for you to recall one topic by connecting it to another. You’d be surprised to know that forming connections between information is one of the two techniques shared by Elon Musk for quick learning. 

The THIEVES Method

This method is, again, a systematic approach to learning, and following such an approach can be the best way to cover everything for the upcoming exam in a planned manner. The acronym THIEVES expands to 

• Title- you begin by reading the title
• Headings- then, move on to reading through all the headings to get a structural view of the topic.
• Introduction- skimming through the intro is the next step because this section gives a crux of what’s to come.
• Every first sentence - make note of how every section begins.
• Visuals and vocabulary - The visuals and key defining words, are of primary importance if you want to capture the topic's essence.
• End questions- The question provided at the end of a topic are not random, rather they span the whole section. It is a great idea to review and answer these questions.
• Summarize- The last step is always revising or summarizing the whole topic in your own words to solidify what you have learned. 

Study Tips for Exams (D-Day)

Here are a few study tips for exams to help you stay balanced and maintain focus on exam days as well as in between:

• Practice on old exams- Once you are done with the preparations and revisions, practising past test papers is the best way to reiterate what you’ve learned. They don't only prepare you for what is to come but also give you a boost of confidence.
• Meditate- Dedicating a few minutes to meditating and performing breathing exercises makes a world of difference to your frame of mind. People around the globe vow the benefits of meditation, and it is not just for when you are thinking about ‘how to focus on studying for exams’ but also for leading a healthy life.
• Plan your exam day- It is ideal to keep the exam timing in mind. Plan when to wake up, how long it takes to get ready, when to leave for the exam center, etc. Planning for the day will help you avoid any time-related anxiety, restlessness, etc.
• Additional Tips:
  • Eat & drink the right food: It is important to maintain energy during the exam as well as the whole day to perform to the best of your ability. Some specific foods are called brain foods, like walnuts, etc. Try to include these in your diets as well. With a tedious day ahead of you, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
  • Make use of planners: There are plenty of study planners, day planners, management apps, etc., that can make life easier and help you navigate your days more efficiently. Try them out. 

Bad Study Habits to Avoid

While it’s good to adopt the best study tips for exams, students should also avoid these bad study habits:

• Procrastination: Putting off studying until the last minute leads to cramming and poor retention of information.
• Distractions: Studying with distractions like phones or TV hinders focus and decreases productivity.
• Lack of organization: Not having a clear study plan or schedule can lead to inefficiency and confusion.
• Multitasking: Trying to study multiple subjects simultaneously can reduce the depth of understanding and retention of information.
• Lack of breaks: Not taking regular breaks during study sessions can lead to burnout and decreased focus.
• Neglecting self-care: Ignoring physical and mental well-being while studying can lead to exhaustion and stress and ultimately hinder academic performance.

This compiles study tips for exams that have been proven effective by both, science and experience. With these tacts, you don't have to wonder how to study for exams because they will help you beat the exam blues and #BeUnstoppable.

We'd like to leave you with a famous quote as food for thought-

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

- Colin Powell

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