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Student Success Center
University of Tennessee at Martin
210 Clement Hall
210 Hurt Street
Martin, TN 38238
(731) 881-1689 (Office)
(731) 881-7744 (Office)
(731) 881-1886 (Fax)
success@utm.edu

Dr. George E. Daniel III, Director

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Student Success Center - Strategies for Studying for Exams

 

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Exam Prep Resources:

 

10 Exam Prep Tips:

  • Do NOT wait until the night before an exam to start studying! Marathon study sessions are not as effective in helping students remember information as spreading study time out over three or four shorter sessions. Study in one hour blocks or 20 minute sessions.
  • Study your notes daily - 5, 10, 20 minutes. Two hours should be spent studying for every hour outside class.
  • Attend ALL classes, especially the class before an exam, because the professor may go over what is going to be on the exam! ALWAYS ask questions if you are unsure of what kind of test you will be having (e.g. fill-in-the blank, essay, matching, etc.).
  • Attend Supplemental Instruction sessions associated with your classes, go to tutoring sessions offered across campus, and form your own study group to help get ready for upcoming exams by SHARING and discussing notes
  • Study your hardest or most boring subject when you are at your best and you are in a place where you will have the least distractions.
  • Stay off your phone while studying and learn to say "No" to distractions.
  • Listen carefully in class, professors generally point out important information that will show up on an exam.
  • Know your learning style. Are you a Visual, Auditory, or Kinesthetic learner?
  • Know the type of test you are taking. Is it a True-False, Multiple-Choice, or Essay Exam?
  • Learn to manage your time effectively. Make a study schedule and be sure to include not only your classes and work but also some personal time. You will burn yourself out if all you do is school, study, and work.

 

Let go of Test Anxiety

 

Dealing with thoughts:

  • Yell ''Stop''
  • Daydream
  • Visualize Success
  • Focus
  • Praise Yourself
  • Consider the Worst

 

Dealing with Feelings:

  • Breathe
  • Scan your Body
  • Tense and Relax
  • Use guided Imagery
  • Exercise
  • Get Help

 

How to Cram even though you shouldn't:

  • Make choices
  • Make a plan
  • Use a review sheets and flash cards
  • Recite (Over and over)
  • Relax
  • Don't ''should'' on yourself

20 Memory Techniques

  • Organize It
  • Make it Meaningful
  • Create Associations
  • Learn It Once, Actively
  • Relax
  • Create Pictures
  • Recite and Repeat
  • Write it Down
  • Reduce Interference
  • Overlearn
  • Escape the Short-Term Memory Trap
  • Use your time
  • Schedule your time
  • Be prepared to study
  • Choose what not to store in Memory
  • Combine memory Techniques
  • Remember something else
  • Notice when you do remember
  • Use it before you lose it
  • And remember, you never forgot