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This week was supposed to be the week for my high school’s midterms.  Unfortunately, my school’s four-day midterm week was interrupted by two snow days (one major storm and another minor one), but that’s another story.  Now, midterms account for 15% of the grade at my school, making them very important in raising, lowering, or sustaining a grade in high school.  Thus, they require plenty of studying.

Now, before I begin, I will say I am a hypocrite on this subject.  I rarely study.  Not to hold myself up on a high horse, but I remember almost everything I read or am taught in school.  I am, according to many people, “very smart.”  Now, although I rarely study, I feel the majority of students should.  The problem with studying is that unless you are truly committed to it or can develop tunnel vision, you will quickly become bored or distracted.  Studying is simply a boring thing.  So I have a few tips:

• Study somewhere that you will be less easily distracted (NOT YOUR ROOM).  That way, it won’t be a day of you saying, “Ooh, shiny thing!”
• Also, no matter how boring it is to make them, flash cards work, and in my opinion, making them is half of the studying.
• Use study guides to determine what you need to study, not to study itself.  They are good at finding you weak points, not for memorizing data.
• Finally, get a good amount of sleep the night before the test.  Don’t cram, it stresses you out.

Also, here are a few more study tips from Dartmouth College:

• Study in chunks: 20-50 minute time periods followed by a brief break (5-10 minutes) is the most effective way to study.
• Use daylight hours: an hour of studying during the day is worth two at night! Do the work that requires the most concentration (typically reading) earliest.
• Rank your classes and be sure to spend time on your most challenging class everyday and early in the day.
• Study actively: ask yourself questions, review your notes regularly, discuss key concepts with peers and course professor.

So, before you take on a big test, try and remember these tips, they will help you succeed!