What a whirlwind....
My last post was so long ago, I barely remember anything that I had said.
This semester I am taking Statistics, Macroeconomics, Business Law and Speech. This semester is so so different from any other semester I have been through. And, I'm not sure why. All I can figure out is that each of my teachers have entirely different teaching styles as well as test styles. I would have to say that knowing a teacher's test style is one of the single most important things to figure out, and as early as possible. (Or, your grade could suffer).
Some teachers give study guides, some offer an in-class review, some courses have university supported tutoring, while others offer zilch. So what's the best tactic when your teacher expects you to know all without any aid? Well, if I could answer that, I would be getting all A+++'s.....
But, a few recomendations for better test grades would be:
- Go to class! ( I know this sounds boring, but listening to lecture helps you retain the information better than reading alone. And, sometimes teachers will even "hint" that a certain topic would be "a good test question".)
- Take awesome notes! (Again, this may be a little geeky, but writing everyting down the teacher says can really help you out when you're studying!)
- If you miss class, email your teacher! (Let them know you will be missing class and see if there's any way you can meet for office hours to cover missed class. Or, if office hours are not available, ask a friend for notes. Many times have I scanned notes for friends (and vice-versa) when class must be missed)
- Make a friend in each class! (Okay, I know this sounds like some Mr. Roger's Neighborhood cliche, but it helps, trust me! Find someone you know (or introduce yourself if you don't know them) and get their email. Find out which way is easiest to get ahold of them ... Oncourse, Webmail, etc. If you don't understand, you can ask your friend. What are the chances that both of you will misunderstand the same subject? Or, maybe both of you can figure it out together. This also helps when you need help on homework or notes from a previous class)
- Study in small sittings... (I would guess after 15-20 minutes of hardcore studying, your brain gets zapped.... Stop, take a break, get a snack (lower sugar, high protein), whatever you need to do to refresh yourself. I like to switch between subjects and then go back. This makes sure I don't get frustrated or "space off" the subject at hand.
- Do your homework and review it! (Again, a little of a cliche, but teachers aren't handing out homework because they have nothing better to do..... Homework is supposed to re-enforce topics covered in class. When test time comes around, get out your homework and see if you can still answer the quesitons)
- Get a tutor or a studygroup! (If you absolutely cannot study by yourself (or have trouble staying on task) join a study group. If you bring a few people together who are in the same class, chances are at least one person there can figure out the problem for the test and then can explain it to you! Or, if you cannot find anyone who wants to join your group (chances are you can!) go to a tutor. The tutor should know the subject matter well and can help explain anything you may not understand. Hint: Don't wait until the night before the exam to find help. If you know you are struggling, seek help ASAP!)
Well, I hope I have helped! Now, I'm going to take my own advice and go study!
