chemistrynerd2020:

Studying for an exam (or it is called revising in some parts of the studyblr community) can be stressful. When is studying for an exam fun anyways. Everyone tests and studies differently but here are some tips that have helped me with studying for exams and passing the exams.

Before the Exam Date (~2-3 weeks out from the exam):

• I tend to study at least two weeks out the material that will be on the exam. If the exam covers chapter X-Z, I break up the chapters and review everyday.
  
• I DO NOT cram all my material in a day or pull all nighters. This has never worked for me and plus, I value my sanity and sleep too much.
• I review and do my homework problems as soon lecture get out.
• Any questions I have about the material, I go to my professor’s office hours during these couple of weeks before the exams because MOST students wait the day of the exam and I don’t have time to deal with people who waited last minute to ask questions.
• I do not study ALL day. Nope. I hate looking at the material all day and I spend about 2-4 hours on the material per day.

1 Week Before the Exam Date:

• All homework should be completed by this time and the only problem solving I will do is for practice exams/quizzes.
  
• I begin reviewing my material by either teaching it to other people, writing it all out, or rewriting important concepts over and over again.
  
• I begin winding down on material. I do not let up on studying, but I also don’t spend hours reviewing/studying

Night Before the Exam Date:

• I review a little bit that day and I try to relax that day. I have lots of test anxiety and I have to make sure I am stress-free on exam day.
  
• 1-2 hours before bed, I put my books and material down and do something fun before bed such as reading a book for fun.
  

The Exam Date:

• By this point, I hate looking at my material for the exam and I am so sick of looking at it so a lot of times I don’t bring it with me.
• I listen to music before the exam, something calming.
• I do not like to be near people before the exam. My chemistry friends were so negative and mean, I just didn’t bother with them during exam day. So I would isolate myself.
  
• I do a lot of deep breathing exercises to calm my nerves and think positive thoughts. It works so much for me especially with my test anxiety.

After the Exam:

• I go home or do something constructive like exercise after the exam. I do not like to think about the exam at all and I vacate the testing area as soon as possible because I do not want to hear about how people did.
  
• I do other assignments for other classes if I have homework, but I won’t do anything for that class I took a test in. Again, I don’t like to look at the material after an exam.
  

Things to Think About:

Exams are hard and sometimes you won’t always get perfect grades. And that’s perfectly ok! I didn’t and I failed quite a few exams, I still passed the courses. But I didn’t let failing exams derail me completely. I had moments of doubt, but then I realized it is not worth stressing about an exam that only tests your ability to regurgitate a textbook or lecture notes back onto paper. Always have positive thoughts and NEVER second guess yourself. Good luck my peeps with exams and I hope this has helped!