Study Skill 10.1 Preparing and Planning for Tests

Introduction

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin

When do you start preparing for a test? What do you take into consideration as you start to think about this process? How does it make you feel? There are short, medium and long term activities that can be done.

Long term: Skill #2 looked at schedules and calendars. With your calendar in hand, take a look to find out when your next exams are. How much time before the exam should you schedule your preparation?
Medium term: Watch the College Info Geek Video below and put his KEY CONCEPTS, listed below, into practice.
Short term: Watch the TED-Ed video below and sleep well!

Watch

Thomas Frank “Exam Tips: How to Study for Finals - College Info Geek” (YT 6:03)

Shai Marcu “The Benefits of a Good Night's Sleep” (TedEd 5:45)

Visit

Top Universities “Exam Preparation: Ten Study Tips” https://bit.ly/2zV2L1M
Study Hack “Remember Better: Active Recall” https://bit.ly/2A3voJV

Key Ideas

Make a detailed plan.
Break study projects into actionable steps.
Know the format of your test and how to use active recall to your advantage.
Review old material while studying (quizzes, practice tests & mock exams).
Anticipate your possible weaknesses in advance.

Apply

Think about how you can use active recall to make your learning more efficient. How can you work with your classmates on this? Could you create an online flashcard set (e.g. Quizlet, Anki or StudyBlue)?
Visit the Canvas course page for your next test. Look at the Exam Practice Review and Quizzes. What topics do the questions relate to?
Visit SMU’s 5-Day Test Prep Plan https://bit.ly/3gTxRap. Make a detailed exam plan based on the key concepts.

Quick Check

When preparing for exams, you should consider long-term, medium-term, and short-term strategies for success.

True

That's right! By considering all of these factors, you can build a solid plan of action for test preparation.

False

Not quite. It is imporant to begin planning early so that you prepare for exams in stages instead of all at once right before the exam.

Quick Check

Trying to memorize facts is a more effective study technique than using active recall strategies when preparing for an exam.

True

Try again. Studies show that students who study using active recall techniques typically perform 50% better than those who don’t.

False

You got it! Active recall engages you in the study process with questions about the exam content. Studies show that students who study using active recall techniques typically perform 50% better than those who don’t.