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Exams
can kick your academic butt -- unless you
have some knock-out test-taking tools!
Prepare
for Exams the Educated Way
By
Rebecca Vara
December/January 2003
The
CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- It's Saturday
afternoon, and you're planning to scream
your lungs out at the big b-ball game, but
something is blocking your path. Instead
of marching up to the gym, you're forced
to follow the library detour to study for
an exam. After countless hours of burning
brain cells, your mind is mush, and you're
still not ready to ace the exam. What do
you do now?
Save
yourself some well-needed brain power and
pop an aspirin, because NewsClick
is here to ease your aching academic headache.
Along with Richard
Labunski,
author of The Educated Student: Getting
the Most Out of Your College Years (Marley
and Beck Press, 2002),
we're going to give you a study session
on how to properly prepare for exams, starting
with...
A
Lecture Leg-Up
If
Labunski's
book
teaches you one thing, it's to take notes
well. And, writing everything down is not
the key to learning. You'd be better off
trying to find a balance between writing
and listening, explains the author, because
it's hard to pay attention to what the professor
is saying if you're too busy scribbling
it down.
After
you find that balance, look for keywords.
Labunski's loud-and-clear learning points:
Pay special attention to definitions, basic
principles, differing positions on issues,
timelines, material the prof' highlights,
and anything written on the board or overhead.
Next
up, review! (Taking good notes is only the
first step.) Spend a few minutes after class
to review 'em and fill in any blanks you
may have missed. Doing this on a regular
basis will help you accomplish more and
will be helpful come exam time.
Of
course, when reading over your lecture notes,
advises
Labunski,
don't get bogged down with too much detail.
Look for major concepts instead -- did the
prof' discuss a particular concept or theory
more than once? If so, take special note
of that. Then, since one read-through isn't
usually enough, read your notes again. This
time, though, carefully conceptualize which
themes you think will most likely appear
in a short answer or essay format on the
exam.
Textbook Tips
To ease more of your studying woes, bring
your textbook to class everyday. For
future reference, you
can cite and highlight all
the questions that come up during class.
Then, when you're in exam mode, go
over the highlighted sections first. According
to Labunski, it's in your best interest
to make marks in your textbook. You may
not be able to sell the book back, but in
the long run, it's better than cramming
full chapters the night before a test and
hunting for key points.
"Yes,
I'm Here and Eager to Learn"
Just as important as lecture and textbook
notes
is being present and active in class. The
biggest mistake you can make is to blow
off class, says
Labunski,
especially
the day before an exam. (It's the
most important class to attend!) Profs will
often bring out their best stuff by answering
review questions and providing hints as
to what material may be tested.
Do
you want to move to the head of the class?
Then educate yourself with this surefire
exam heads-up, and you'll be well on your
high test-scoring way!
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