STUDY SKILLS
Complete harder assignments first
Take notes in class and review them at the end of each day
Complete and take advantage of the test review your teacher gives you
Date all of your class notes and keep them in order by date
Spend your time wisely!
Set Goals (if you do not know what you want to achieve as a student, you will not know how to get there or if you have accomplished things).
Use a planner (If you keep all of your assignments, due dates, and test dates in your head, you will not have any room left for the new information you are learning about in class).
Know your learning style (develop techniques and strategies for compensating for possible differences between your learning style and your instructor's teaching style).
Be an active reader (be a text detective: ask your text good questions and it will yield good answers).
Organize your materials (if your organize your materials as you proceed through a course, you will retrieve information with greater ease later).
Do not wait until the night before to study for a test! This way you will not have to cram, which could lead to anxiety and stress.
Read ALL directions on your test
Review the questions at least once before marking your answer
Remember to take short breaks during your study time.
Draft papers (never turn in the first draft of a paper--always leave time to re-work it before your professor sees it.
Slow down on tests (anxiety makes you skip over parts of questions. Read every word carefully).
Do not replace protein with caffeine (Protein and complex carbohydrates are an energy source that will not leave you jittery).
Test Anxiety
It is normal to feel some level of anxiety or stress regarding upcoming exams, papers, or presentations.
Some Tips for Reducing Test Anxiety:
Preparation: develop good study habits, spreading studying over several days; ask for additional help when needed; eat good foods, get adequate rest, and exercise to build energy; attend class regularly and complete all assignments in a timely manner; make and take practice tests
Get a good night's sleep: Cramming is never a good way to study; pulling all night study sessions only adds anxiety, stress, and exacerbates your nerves. Having adequate sleep per night will most likely be more beneficial.
Keep a positive attitude : develop reasonable expectations; do not allow your grades to become dependent on the outcome of one exam; avoid negative and irrational thoughts about catastrophic results.
Get to Class--or the testing site early: Make sure you pack everything you need the night before and set an alarm so that you can leave on time. Feeling rushed can only enhance ones anxiety and stress level.
Relaxation techniques : deep breathing exercises, imagery and visualization, and muscle relaxation techniques can help to increase focus an concentration.
Learn good test-taking skills :do not panic if you can't remember something right away; answer questions you know well first, and then go back to other ones; read questions and directions carefully before you begin; outline essays before you begin to write; keep short-answers short; don't spend a lot of time reviewing answers.
Practice the performance: time limits of an exam can add to your experience of anxiety. If you practice under similar conditions, you'll become less sensitive to this. For an exam, work through a practice exam (or two!) under the same time constraints that will exist when you take the exam (don't look at your notes, create as many conditions of the actual exam as possible).
Positive self-talk: Purposefully filling your mind with positive statements about yourself and your abilities can offset or crowd-out the negative self-talk. Even if you don't believe the positives, say them anyway-"I'm ready…I can do this…Do it!"