Page 237 - Keys to College Success

get creative

WRITE YOUR OWN TEST

Complete the following on paper or in digital format.

Create a pretest that helps you prepare for a specific upcoming test in one of your courses. Use the tips in this chapter
to predict the material that will be covered, the types of questions that will be asked (multiple choice, essay, etc.), and
the nature of the questions (a broad overview of the material or specific details). Then be creative. Write interesting
questions that tap into what you have learned and make you think about the material in different ways. Go through
the following steps:
1. Create your questions on paper or in a digital f le.
2. Use what you created as a pretest. Set up test-like conditions—a quiet, timed environment—and see how you do.
3. Evaluate your pretest answers against your notes and the text. How did you do?
4. Finally, after you take the actual exam, evaluate whether you think this exercise improved your performance.
Would you use this technique again? Why or why not?

Prepare Physically
Your brain is an organ in your body, and like other organs, it works best when you are
taking care of yourself. First of all, get some sleep—at the very least the night before the
exam, and ideally for a few nights beforehand. Sleep improves your ability to remember
what you studied before you went to bed. By contrast, research has shown that sleep
deprivation, which is rampant among college students, results in lower levels of recall,
impaired contextual memory (you remember a fact but can’t recall how it connects to
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other information), and a decrease in cognitive performance. Taking a test while sleep
deprived can be compared to driving drunk; although it may not endanger your life, it
involves a similar level of impairment and is likely to bring unwanted consequences.
Eating a light, well-balanced meal that is high in protein (eggs, milk, yogurt, meat and
fish, or nuts) will keep you full longer than carbohydrates (breads, candy, and pastries).
Keep some high-energy foods such as peanut butter, energy bars, or bananas in your room
so that you can grab something when you can’t get to your habitual meal spot before a test.

Cram if You Must
Cramming—studying intensively and around the clock right before an exam—often results
in information popping out of your head as soon as the exam is over. If learning is your
goal, cramming will not help you reach it. The reality, however, is that almost every student
crams for tests from time to time. Sometimes you just end up in a time crunch; sometimes
you don’t use your planner effectively and get caught by surprise; sometimes anxiety may
lead you to avoid studying. Use these hints to make the most of last-minute study time:
■ Focus on crucial concepts. Summarize the most important points and try to resist
reviewing notes or texts page by page.
■ Create a last-minute study sheet to review right before the test. Write down key facts,
definitions, and formulas on a single sheet of paper or on flash cards.
■ Arrive early. Review your study aids until you are asked to clear your desk.
After your exam, step back and evaluate your performance. Did cramming help, or
did it load your mind with disconnected details? Did it increase or decrease anxiety at

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