Buzz
There are times when you suddenly realize you have only one day left to prepare for a big exam. This may be due to procrastination or simply a lack of time. However, with discipline and focus, you can still succeed in the exam even with just one day of study. While it's always best to begin preparation at least a week in advance, life doesn't always go as expected, right? This article will provide you with a few tips on how to ace your exam with only one day left to study.
Steps
Create an Optimal Study Environment
Find a place to study. You should study in a location free from distractions like your bed or friends. A new environment will allow you to focus completely on the task at hand.
- Choose a place where you won’t need to move around a lot. A quiet room, a library, or a coffee shop are ideal choices.
Bring all necessary study materials. Make a list of the essential study tools before you go to ensure nothing is forgotten. This may include textbooks, notebooks, a calculator, snacks, sticky notes, highlighters, and anything else you need.
- Avoid bringing anything that could distract you.
Turn off your phone. Unless you need it for studying, it’s best to turn off your phone while you study. This way, you can stay focused for longer without interruptions and also reduce the chance of distractions.
Decide whether you should study alone or with others. With limited time, it might be best to study alone. However, sometimes studying in a small group can be helpful because you can compare notes and discuss concepts together. If you choose to study in a group, make sure to select people who are at least as good as you, so they won’t slow you down.
- Be cautious when studying with friends. It’s easy to get distracted if you’re only studying with close friends. Ensure that your study group includes some people who are not as familiar to you.
Find Effective Study Methods
Review your notes. If you don’t have your own notes, copy the notes from a reliable friend. Simply rereading your notes is essential, but not enough. Go back through your notes and highlight key terms or use sticky notes to mark important sections.
- Try summarizing your notes for each chapter or key concept. Write the summaries in the simplest language on a separate sheet of paper. These summary lines will help guide you through the study material for the day.
- When reviewing, read your notes out of order. This will help you understand each piece of information individually rather than just as part of a sequence.
Read aloud. Reading aloud while reviewing helps improve retention. Your brain can retain more information if it hears and speaks the material rather than just reading silently.
- Try teaching a chapter or concept to an imaginary student. This requires you to pronounce everything clearly and thoroughly. If you can explain it to someone else, you’ll know whether you truly understand the topic. You can also do this in study groups or when studying with a friend.
Use mnemonic techniques. Applying memory techniques can be helpful when you need to recall a lot of information in a short amount of time.
- Writing something repeatedly can help your brain store it. Make sure to write a concept or idea at least three times for this method to be effective.
- Use memory tricks. Mnemonics are methods that aid memory. Create rhymes, acronyms, or songs that relate to the material you're studying to help you remember it.
Create flashcards. Write down terms and their full definitions on a set of flashcards. These will allow you to test yourself throughout the day. This method is especially helpful on the day of the test, as you can review them on the bus or while waiting in line for lunch.
Use textbooks effectively. Simply rereading your textbook won’t help you retain information, especially if you only have one day to prepare. Focus on reviewing chapter summaries and bolded keywords, and pay attention to the chapter's introduction and conclusion, as they typically contain important summary information.
- Review the review questions at the end of each chapter or section. It’s crucial to test yourself whenever possible to identify which parts need more attention.
Write a study guide. A study guide is an effective study technique that forces you to review the entire material. It’s also useful on the day of the exam, as you can skim through it. Make a list of materials to review, including key terms, facts, and concepts. Then review and fill in each section using sticky notes, either typing or writing by hand. Rewriting the material in your own words helps you retain it better.
- Your friend might also make a study guide, and you’ll be tempted to borrow it when time is short. However, writing your own study guide forces you to phrase the information in your own way, and copying the material helps solidify it in your memory.
Review the upcoming test. Even when time is tight, you must make sure to prepare well for your test based on its format. Go over the syllabus or class notes to understand the test type. If you're unsure, ask your classmates to confirm that you're preparing correctly.
- For multiple-choice tests, questions often focus on small details, facts, vocabulary, and definitions. You might also encounter questions about event sequences and steps. Comparisons between items are also common. Given the short amount of time, focus on specific areas rather than trying to cover the entire topic.
- For essays or short-answer tests, you'll need a good understanding of broader ideas and topics. Try preparing sample questions based on your textbook and study guide. Set aside 15 minutes to draft detailed outlines for each question, as if preparing a full essay. Make sure to memorize key terms and examples you can use to support your essay during the actual exam.
Set up a study plan.
Know exactly what to study. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the material your test will cover. The topics to review may include time periods, scientific theories, or mathematical formulas. If unsure, ask your classmates about the materials to study for the test. This is crucial for your success, especially when you're running out of time.
Create a schedule. Break your day into several hours and determine which subjects to focus on during each block of time. Don't forget to allocate time for sleep as well.
Make a list of everything you need to learn. Review your syllabus or any materials provided. Identify exactly what topics need to be studied and create your own list of the materials you need to review.
Take frequent breaks. Regular breaks are essential to avoid burnout. Try studying for about 45 minutes and then take a 15-minute break. During your break, feel free to check your email, use your phone, or take a short walk.
- A great way to schedule breaks is by using the 50/10 method. Focus intently for 50 minutes without distractions. If you stop or get distracted, start the 50 minutes over. After 50 minutes, take a 10-minute break. This approach will force you to be much more productive during your study time.
Write down key concepts. List the theoretical concepts and classifications, making sure you understand them fully. When cramming for a test, it's crucial to understand the broadest concepts first. Even though your exam may require small details, mastering general theories will help you derive smaller facts.
- Organize terms and facts into larger categories. This technique, known as 'chunking', makes it easier to remember when you connect individual concepts to a larger framework.
Review the syllabus. Typically, your instructor will provide a syllabus at the beginning of the semester, detailing everything you need to study. It's important to review it to ensure you haven’t overlooked anything.
- You can also use the syllabus as a study guide. Your professor may have already structured the material in a way that helps guide students. Use it to review the content with a broader perspective and to find the best way to organize the large amount of material you need to cover.
Nathan Fox, JD
LSAT Instructor, Founder of LSATdemon
LSAT Instructor, Founder of LSATdemon
Consider rescheduling your exam if you have the opportunity. For exams like the LSAT, one evening is not enough preparation time. If you take the test without adequate preparation or study for just a week or two, you won’t be able to achieve a high score. You need around three months of preparation for such an exam, so it’s advisable to reschedule if you don't have enough time to study.
Advice
- Make sure to prepare healthy snacks and stay hydrated. A nutritious diet can boost brain function and help retain information while studying.
- Get as much sleep as possible. You may not get the rest you want with just a day left to study, but your brain works best when well-rested. You'll focus better the next day if you avoid pulling an all-nighter.
- You'll perform better with more than one day of study. If possible, try planning your study schedule a week ahead of the next exam.
- Stay calm. Stress only hinders focus and reduces efficiency.
- Break down your study time by subject (e.g., allocate only 20 minutes for an easier subject). Estimate and limit the time spent on each section.
- Focus during study sessions. Humans can only maintain focused attention for about 30-45 minutes at a time!
- Highlight key material. Only highlight the most important points.
- The next day, wake up early—like 5 AM—and review the highlighted sections. If you're done early, you can take a short nap.
- While studying, try to visualize yourself in the situation being discussed.
- Try meditation before studying or when feeling tired. It helps relax your mind and improves focus.
- Instrumental music can enhance concentration.
- Learning anything takes time! Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed right away. Keep trying.
Warning
- Don't discuss answers or review your work after the exam. This can undermine your confidence.
- Do not engage in last-minute discussions with friends before the test; this may confuse you. Only ask friends about what you truly don't understand.
- Avoid pulling all-nighters. The effects of sleep deprivation will show during the test, making it harder to concentrate and increasing the likelihood of mistakes.
- Cramming before an exam attempts to force a large volume of information into your brain, hoping it will come out at the right moment (during the test). The result is that you will forget the material you've crammed, and this could affect you later (e.g., in midterms or finals). It's better to study a little each day throughout the semester. This will help you retain the knowledge effectively.
