It's January and midterms are upon us! 

Midterm exams assess what students have learned over the past two marking periods. The exams will begin on Thursday, January 18, with the last exams taking place on Wednesday, January 24. Before you start panicking, read up on some helpful hints to help you survive!

Study tips!

Big tests like the midterms can be stressful and you may not know where to start or what to do when it comes to studying, so here are a few tips to start!

• Don't Procrastinate! Studying may be boring and it could be tempting to do other things while studying but it doesn't help with the test. An article from the American Psychological Association says that students might do well on tests they have crammed up, but it doesn't mean they have completely learned the material. Procrastinating doesn't help your long term memory and you may forget your material too quick, but if you make a study plan ahead of time and stick to it you might be able to build a better memory on what you've learned. 

• Ask for help. In an article from Harvard.edu, guide to pursing a biology major, states "Be proactive about identifying areas where you need assistance and seek out that assistance immediately. The longer you wait, the longer it becomes to catch up." You are most likely not the only one who may need assistance and speaking out could also help some other people. Your parents, teachers, classmates, friends, and even siblings can help you out with whatever you may need assistance with. 

•  Review until you get it right. Like weight lifting, you have to exercise your brain to make it stronger. Elizabeth and Robert Bjork, research scientists, say that " Desirable difficulties" can enhance learning. An example of this is using flashcards, which is more of an advanced task compared to just reading a plain old textbook. 

•  Reward yourself! Studies have shown that giving yourself small rewards throughout the studying process can keep up motivation rather than saving it all for the end. An example of what you can do is give yourself a system, put small tasks together and make them progressively harder and after every section, reward yourself with things like your favorite treat or an episode of your favorite show.

Study tips!

Studying may seem boring at first but once you find your groove it can be tolerable. 

• Read over the review sheets given to you by your teacher. 

• Make note cards or a Quizlet.

•  Find a friend to study with!

•  Put aside a specific time each day to study.

• Study in a quiet, comfortable place.

• Put your phone away so you are free from distractions.

What's the word!

If there is anything good about midterms, it's the fact that you are not alone! Many students and even staff are just as stressed as you! Here's what a few of them have to say.

Freshman, Cara Masino, states "The midterms are very stressful and they're coming quickly. It's especially stressful when we get the review packets only a few days before the actual tests. It's really unlucky that this is the one year we can't leave early."

Alex Mogavero, who is also a freshman, says " It's a lot of information to remember and I hope I'll do well. I'm confident on biology but I'm not too sure about the rest."

Seniors Megan France and Antonia Fiacci are very excited to be wrapping up their test-taking days. "We're just glad it's our last big test and we don't have to take it again."

Am I stressed? Do I look stressed? Are you stressed? Who's stressed? Ahhhhhh!

Test anxiety is a lot more common than it seems and many people don't know the best methods to calm it down or help them focus. Here are a few ways to do that:

•  Take deep breaths. Count.

•  Listen to music.

• Take breaks and out!  

• Get enough sleep.

Be sure to study and use these helpful tips. You'll do great! 

Good Luck, Wallkill!