If you are planning to study with a partner, you may be able to book a private study room where you can discuss the test and share review materials. This will ensure you can talk to your study partner without disturbing anyone around you. Talk to the circulation desk at your library about booking a study room or look at your school’s library website for more information on booking a study room.
Some coffee shops are known for their quiet environment, especially if they are located on the school campus and are frequented by many students. Consider choosing a coffee shop that is known for its student-friendly atmosphere, rather than a coffee shop that is loud, bustling, and often crowded. This will ensure you will be able to get work done without being constantly interrupted or distracted by noise and chatter around you.
This could include telling everyone in the house that you are studying and shutting the door. Or, you could turn off any distractions, like the television, a radio, or your cellphone, and place them out of reach. This could then help you to focus on studying for the science test. While it may be tempting to lie in bed as you study, data has shown that studying in bed can lead to distraction and difficulty turning off your brain when it’s time to go to bed. Instead, study at a desk in your room with a desk lamp so you get enough light and can focus on your study materials.
Focus on recent class notes, especially the notes made in your most recent class, as they will likely contain important information you can use to prepare for the test. One of the best ways to make your class notes more instructive is to use visual diagrams and representations, such as the scientific process of condensation. Drawing out scientific processes can help you to better visualize them and remember them later.
For example, you may have notes of the process of condensation from your chemistry class or notes on the digestive system from your biology class. These processes can be detailed and contain a lot of information that can be challenging to remember. Using a highlighter to identify key points can help you to focus on the most important details in the process without getting overwhelmed by information. In your notes on the process of condensation, for example, you may start with a definition of condensation: “The process of changing water vapor in the air into liquid water. ” Rather than highlight the entire sentence, you may highlight the terms “water vapor” “air” and “liquid water”. This will help you remember the key terms of the definition so you can recall it easily when you take the test. [6] X Research source
You should clarify the form of the test, such as multiple choice, short answer, or true/false. The form of the test will then help you better prepare for the test. [8] X Expert Source Bryce Warwick, JDTest Prep Tutor, Warwick Strategies Expert Interview. 5 November 2019. If the test is multiple choice or true/false, you may want to focus on memorizing key definitions, examples, and concepts. If the test is short answer, you may want to practice writing out short answers that explain key definitions and concepts. An example study guide for a test on condensation, for example, may contain questions like, “What is the process of condensation?” “How is condensation different from evaporation?” “How can we demonstrate condensation in an experiment?” Though these questions may not be the exact ones used on the test, they will likely point to key concepts or points that you should study in preparation for the test.
If you are creating flashcards for a test on the process of condensation, for example, you may write the definition of condensation on a green flashcard and the difference between condensation and evaporation on a yellow flashcard. You may then write the definition for evaporation on a green flashcard and the use of a pressure temperature graph on a yellow flashcard. Separating definitions from concepts can allow you to test yourself on different things using the flashcards, but still ensure they remain separate as you review them. The color coding can also help you distinguish between a definition and a concept.
Break up your study materials into chunks using a highlighter or a pen. You can also cover the information around the section with a piece of blank paper so you are only focusing on the one chunk, instead of the surrounding information. This will prevent you from getting distracted and allow you to stay focused on one section at a time.
The study schedule should include one to two studying methods and indicate how many hours a day you will be studying for the test. Try to plan out exactly how much time you will allot to each method and ensure you are able to cover all the information required for the test within the allot timeframe. Keep in mind most people can concentrate well for 45 minutes before losing interest or zoning out. Take breaks between study sessions if you plan to study for more than 45 minutes at a time. For example, on Monday night, you may do a twenty minutes session using the chunking method, followed by a review of key definitions using flashcards for twenty five minutes. On Tuesday night, you may do a review of the previous night’s studying and then move on to a new section in your notes. Once you complete a twenty minute session using the chunking method on a new section, you may do another round of review of key concepts with your flashcards for twenty five minutes. You may then continue this pattern until Friday, and do a big review day on the weekend, taking breaks between study sessions so you can digest the information in your study materials.
Create enough test questions to fulfill the structure of the test. For example, if your teacher tells you the test will have ten multiple choice questions total, you should create at least ten to fifteen practice multiple choice questions. If your teacher tells you there will be four true/false questions and four short answer questions, make sure your example test questions follow the same format. For a test on the process of condensation, for example, you may create test questions that cover the major concepts and definitions for this process, such as: “What is the definition of condensation?” “How does water vapor turn into liquid water through the process of condensation?” “What is the difference between condensation and evaporation?” “What is an example experiment that illustrates the process of condensation?”
When you grade your test questions, note any questions that you got wrong or could not answer. These gaps in your knowledge can be helpful to identify, as you can then focus on filling these gaps when you review your study materials again.
Have your study partner read the questions out loud and then respond to the questions out loud. Vocalizing your answers can help you to remember them better and ensure your brain is full of relevant information that will help you ace your science test.
