chapter 7
13 Best Ideas for A+ Test-Preparation
1: Spread it Out
Many students assume that the closer to the test they study, and the more hours they put in at a sitting, the better they'll remember the material they need to know for the test. That's why in most large classes the professor will spy a cadre of students who have stayed up all night and keep studying until the professor has to literally rip the notes out of their hands to get the exam started. This is actually the worst possible way to prepare for a test. You don't learn well and it's an unpleasant experience to boot. Both for you and your classmates, who have to put up with you showing up for the exam looking, and perhaps even smelling, like the back end of a bus.
What's really best for learning is to spread out your studying over a larger number of smaller sessions. We suggest starting your studying (when possible) about a week before the test. Look over what you need to know, then divide up the material over three to five study sessions mapped out over the week. The sessions needn't be super long (about an hour or two each is generally sufficient) -- just enough to cover the portion of the material you need to cover. Each session (except the first) should allow some time for a brief review of the material you've already studied. But the bulk of each session should be spent on studying some new material -- always forging on to that ever-looming test...
