Revving up for finals

It's exam time! (did you just groan? It's okay...we've all been there). But exam time means it's time to shine in your classes for one last time before you go on break. 

Exams typically cause the universal student-groan because they takes work. Often a lot of work; but doing exams right means the difference between stressful work that leads to mediocre grades and an invigorating, albeit challenging, workload that leaves you feeling satisfied after an exam-well-done.

So below are three tips to ensure your exam time is a satisfying acceleration and not a crash and burn.

Study Tipping Tuesday - Exam Edition 

1. Study by yourself first - then engage in a study group a few days before the exam to review and test what you know.

Getting ready for a test is like getting ready for any performance. Musicians have to practice by themselves - then they get together to rehearse as a band (I admit, all I know about being in a band comes from what I learned from Jesse and the Rippers on Full House, but, I consider them an authentic source). 

I danced in high school and a little bit in college and it worked the same way. If I didn’t work on the choreography by myself, I was constantly distracted by what others knew, copying their movements, and not really knowing if the movements were ingrained into my brain/body. 

Then when I came back to dance with the team, I could see where I still needed to work, and where I was good to go. 

Groups are for review – they should test what you already know. So study on your own and use that study group time as a stress-free session with friends to go over the test material.

2. Create your own practice tests.

Okay I know, why would you create another test to take? I promise you - this is the single best thing you can do to ensure satisfying exam grades and a focused and engaged study-time.

Creating your own practice tests helps you engage with the material, anticipate what's going to be on the test, and gives you an opportunity to test yourself and see what you still need to focus on. 

There are tons of ways to approach this.

You can start with learning any terms you have to know for the test. Quizlet is a great tool for that – and it has an app you can use on your phone.

I also suggest making some practice multiple choice and short answer questions – they can help you flesh out what a real test might look like. Here are some more tips for creating a practice test.  

3. Study a little bit every day, never more than 50 minutes at a time, taking 10-minute breaks every hour.

The worst mistake students make when it comes to exams is all-nighters. Start studying for exams now. It will help you maintain your grades and your sanity.  

If you're relying on caffeine to get you through exam time then you aren't doing it right. It should definitely be a challenge, but it shouldn't break you down or cause you immense stress.  

Because never forget – you control what you know, how you prepare, and how you will do – you just have to take the steps to make sure that you stay in control, and get started early. Don't let the exams control you. 

And most importantly – on behalf of everyone who misses summer vacation – finish the year on a high-note so that you can enjoy that feeling when you turn in your last exam with the unique confidence and satisfaction that comes from knowing you got a good grade -- and knowing that you earned it.   

Good luck!

Study Tipping Tuesday – Building a Practice Multiple-Choice Test for Review

It's Tuesday – which means it is time for some more study tips for the week :)

As I've mentioned in previous posts, one of the most effective ways to study is to create a practice test. So I thought I'd share an easy way to create one. Because remember creating the practice test itself is just as effective (if not more so) than actually taking it. 

There are a few practice test methods that I'll eventually share, and I'd like to start with the multiple-choice.

In education, one of the most effective methods to learn something is to associate it with its meaning and differentiate it from what it isn't -- a logical, but incorrect answer (i.e. what can sometimes feel like a "trick" question on a test but is really there to make you think hard). It's called a “non-example.” By building your own questions, you allow yourself to interact with the material on a deeper level by defining terms and non-examples. 

Okay, are you ready? Here's what to do: 

First, choose key details from the sections that you are reviewing; for example, focus on things that you may have highlighted during your reading. 

Next, try to think about the kind of questions that could be associated with that topic. There are generally two types of MC questions.

The first type is usually easier to answer – those questions that simply require you to distinguish between definitions. 

When creating these questions, the rules are simple: generate a sample question, providing the correct answer as one option.

Then choose terms that are related to or similar to the correct answer – terms that have something to do with the correct choice but have a distinguishing characteristic. Have fun and be sneaky about it. Pretend you're a professor trying to "trick" students (i.e. really trying to make them think hard). 

Use those answers to build the incorrect multiple-choice answers for the question. 

As you do this you will be thinking deeply about the term and how it is different from other closely related examples. This will dig it deep into your brain, ready to recall come study time. 

The second type of question you'll want to develop – the more common – and difficult – is the example-based question. 

The process for you will be exactly the same.  

The only difference is you'll be dealing with the practical application of theories instead of definitions. For example, in most psychology, science, and business classes professors will ask you to apply theories, postulations, or laws to a set of circumstances. 

So, in order to simulate this, you'll work towards understanding the theory enough to predict what type of question could be asked with it and what mistakes could be made. This takes practice.

For example, if you are studying gas laws in chemistry, you'd want to generate a sample question that will require you to go through the process of applying those laws to a situation correctly. 

Come up with a scenario and choose the correct theory application. Then, start to build non-examples that show the incorrect steps in the process – or an incorrect interpretation of that theory or concept. In the chemistry example, your incorrect  choices might be an instance of applying a different gas law, or a non-example where you skip or misplace a step in the process or formula. 

Again, the purpose here is very focused (and very effective). 

Studying isn’t just preparing for correct answers. It is preparing to be able to see why the incorrect answers shouldn’t be chosen. 

This isn’t always easy at first. It shouldn’t be. If this process was always easy, professors wouldn’t be able to challenge their students. And everyone would get 100's on their tests. 

But, once you start analyzing the way that questions can be formatted – rather than flipping through definitions on flashcards or thinking that staring with dead-eyes down at your books counts as studying – you can build your preparedness and confidence (and test scores) to new heights you might not even realize are possible. 

And remember, the goal isn’t to get a “C” or even a “B” on a test. The goal is a to get a perfect score. The 100%.

Because you can.

It's not about perfection. But trying your hardest is about always striving for perfection, knowing that your self-worth lies in the striving itself. 


So strive. Create multiple choice questions. Make your study time stimulating and valuable. And then maybe even trade tests with your friends to see if you can "trick" them ;)