Planning for Exam Preparation

Overview of Remaining Tasks

Review all materials for each course. Evaluate and list priorities among remaining study tasks and estimate the time needed for each. How do the notes, the text, and the supplementary readings relate? How much weight will be given to each on the exam: How will you divide your time among unfinished reading, reviewing notes and texts, identifying major themes and issues, etc.?

Time - Management / Scheduling

Sketch a rough calendar of the weeks, days, and hours remaining before each exam and plot a chart of the hours actually available for study. Objectively and realistically apportion your remaining tasks into these hours, taking into consideration these tips for scheduling:

• Break large tasks into more workable sub-goals and apportion specific time for each.
• Allow longer study periods for grasping total relationships and concepts; use shorter time intervals for review, self-testing, and reinforcement; and routinely use odd moments (waiting for the bus, walking to the library) for periodic recall and review.
• Do difficult tasks first - then reward yourself with easier ones.
• Take brief breaks - don't study all the time. Daily physical exercise is especially important.
• Vary tasks and topics during lengthy study periods. Rework notes, then read; alternate history with math, etc.
• Find a special place to study and use it only for that make it become a stimulus just to study; if you're daydreaming and not studying, then walk away for a few minutes.
• Stick as much as possible to your own regular study and work hours. Adhere to your own biological clock of peak study times rather than adopting someone else's bizarre schedule.

In essence, avoid the "escape" syndrome of fretting the talking more about studying than actually studying. Simply make a realistic appraisal of priorities noting what's got to be done, how much time there is to do it, and when it will be done. Then do it.