By Gary Collins/managing editor
Lilian Mabry, NE Campus counselor, offers students a few test-taking tips before the fall final exams.
What is the best way students should prepare for their final exams?
When they have a course, there is always preparation involved and you’re constantly preparing. So the best way is to study and devote at least an hour … maybe two hours per class, per day for review daily, weekly and then the final review. That’s how serious students prepare for a final in college.
If given a review form or a review sheet or information that is going to be on the test by the instructor, well, more power to you. You have that information and you can take it from there too. That’s important but definitely keep on top of it on a weekly or at least daily basis, so that when it comes down to it, there’s no cramming.
Why doesn’t cramming work?
There have been studies that say the more information the brain takes in or the quicker following a lecture the brain takes in information, the more likely it is to recall.
Recall is very important to memorization, and a lot of college work is memorization.
What are the best times of day for students to study?
Everyone has their own clock. It just depends on the student. Everyone’s biology is a little bit different. For some, they’re morning people. They get stuff done in the morning and feel good and more alert, and they are able to focus and concentrate. But some people are night owls, and they prefer to work at night.
How can a student’s diet and eating habits affect their test-taking abilities?
If they’re eating a poor diet without the right carbohydrates and proteins or taking in extra multiple vitamins, then the body is going to be weak and it might not absorb as much as it could if it were an alert body.
What is test anxiety?
It is something very common actually, many people experience. It varies from sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach or the inability to concentrate. Some students get to that point or even worse with shaking. There’s a certain excitement about doing something, about performing, and that’s all related to any kind of anxiety performance.
How can students overcome this?
Depending on the student, there are multiple ways of doing that but, certainly, focusing on the test, being prepared and knowing the material. Breathing and relaxation techniques, maybe meditation — all of those things can help.
