1. Use the table of contents
Before you head over to the course book, read the table of contents carefully.
The table of contents gives you an overview of the content of the book and how the story goes from topic to topic.
If the table of contents already shows that the order does not make sense to you, make a new order for yourself so that the whole will be read in a meaningful order for you.
See the list for how long each song is and realistically estimate how much you can read (and memorize!) Per day.
When you start your reading job, don’t skip the introductory and concluding paragraphs with a shrug!
The introductory paragraphs give you an overview of the topic of each chapter and what you will learn as you read the paragraph.
Closing paragraphs often summarize the topic you just jumped through in a few sentences - these paragraphs will probably help you.
2. Take advantage of your network
Sit down with classmates facing the same exam and discuss what is easy or difficult in the material or what you think are the most relevant things in the course material.
If you know someone who has already taken that course, ask them what the exam felt like and what material you should pay special attention to at the reading stage.
3. Focus on the big picture
Sometimes it may seem that lecturers want details and a snap of material about their answers, but in reality, they often want you to have a good overview and understanding of the topic as a whole.
When the approaching exam gets nervous, it is difficult to find the most important things in the material to be read and it easily happens that every sentence and article starts to feel central.
If you feel like you don’t see the forest from the trees, use the introductory and concluding passages again to find the most essentials in each chapter, and then build your notes accordingly.
4. Know what you are preparing for
Lecturers often have old exam questions and model answers that they already show up in lectures or can distribute to students before the exam.
If not, feel free to ask them from your teacher / lecturer, classmates, or those who have already passed the exam.
Who knows, maybe your upcoming exam question has been in the exam before and you have already been able to "answer" it while preparing for the exam.
In any case, the old exam questions and answers will give you an overview of how you should answer and what kind of answer your lecturer requires (whether he / she often asks for details or asks him / her to discuss more generally).
5. Make a list of the most important topics
Panning the book in a panic just before the exam will not help you remember the test material. Good and concise review notes, on the other hand, help in times of need.
At the reading stage, make a list of the most important topics in each book / article and read through these lists before taking the exam.
6. Take visual notes
Visual notes aren’t everyone’s thing, but if you’ve never tried it or already know you remember things better about pictures and shapes, sit down and take visual notes for yourself!
Making mind maps of the keywords and key topics in your material can help you get a better overview of the topic than just writing the same things in notes.
Color-coding is also a good idea - this way you can make the different subject areas stand out clearly in the notes and they will also be remembered as colors.
7. Remind yourself: the exam is going well
Just before the exam, it’s exciting, but try not to give panic power - you can get through. Don’t spend your time and energy worrying that you didn’t start reading for the exam earlier.
You can’t influence it anymore, so you’d rather focus on how you’re prepared and how you’ll make the most of the remaining study time.
8. Keep the exam tension in check
When you arrive for an exam or exam, you’ve probably worked hard in the last 24 hours, and longer.
As you sit down, take a deep breath, read through the questions quickly, and first read the one you felt most confident and confident about.
Write down a list of what you remember about this topic and build your answers based on this list.
Your train of thought is likely to be quite lively, but try to keep stress under control by carefully planning your responses, and let your memory work in peace at your own pace.
9. Relax on the last day before the exam
Last minute panic is a common tactic among students worldwide, but it usually helps you get through the exam just by touching the bar.
To keep you from getting tired and stressed on exam day, set aside the last day before the exam for a lighter review of your notes. Take a walk, eat and sleep well.
For some, the best thing to do is that on the last day, the exam doesn’t even concern the exam material, but focuses on relaxing and calming down - maybe this will work for you too?
It is also good to let the memory rest while reading, because that way things will also be better remembered.
However, on the last day before the exam, it’s not worth relaxing by going out to party with friends or filling your head with something else to remember.
In this case, the head office is not allowed to rest, but is still working, and on the exam day it may be,
10. Let the mind rest
This applies not only to the day before the exam, but to the entire school year and study period: remember to relax and let your mind rest.
For some there is a sport, for others from a movie, a long walk, a visit to a friend or just lying in bed and staring at the ceiling.
In any case, after a day of studying, it’s important to take time to relax and let your brain think of something completely different.
This not only helps keep stress levels under control, but also makes the material read and learned more memorable. And don't forget the importance of a good night's sleep!
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