BY MICHELLE HOFFNER
As summer approaches, students’ desire for the school year to end increases exponentially. Few want to be sitting inside studying when fun could be had outside with friends. Unfortunately, finals are just around the corner and we must hold off on our summer celebrations until the tests are finally over. And because of the lure of the nice weather, we must employ strict study habits to make sure that our focus remains on the books.
I’ve found that the most important step to focusing is to be fully aware of what you have to do. Although to-do lists are cliché, having a tangible list of the tasks you have to complete is the best way to stay organized. You also gain a fulfilling sense of efficiency when something gets crossed off the list.
The next step is to write down questions or topics of concern. If you are aware of what specific things need to be reviewed, it is a lot easier to prepare. It is pointless to review things you are already keen on. Instead, writing down questions reminds you of the problem areas.
The next logical step is to answer your questions. Using a variety of texts to find responses makes sure you have an accurate and truthful understanding of the solution. Class notes, however, are the best place to look. Direct material from the teacher is the only way to know exactly what is on the test. Once you find the answer, you mustwrite it down. Although highlighting looks nice and can be entertaining, you gain very little from coloring over a sentence. Also, when the information is written down on a single study sheet, it is far easier to review than when it is spread over tons of highlighted papers.
The important thing to remember, however, is that each student has a unique set of study habits that work the best for him. Finding these methods takes time. Try your friends’ techniques to see if they work for you. I have found that I study most efficiently when I write study sheets in thick blue pens on computer paper. But that incredibly specific solution took me years to figure out, and truthfully, I’m still not even sure if it works.
