Tips for a successful midterm

The dreaded week is upon us, midterms! It’s no joke that the eighth week of the semester is one loathed by students nationwide. But we can approach this week with optimism and motivation by following a few tips that can help us study and prepare effectively.

One of the most helpful strategies is ensuring we study in a distraction-free environment.
We often perform how we practice, so practicing in a quiet, peaceful space can help us perform better.

A Harvard student shares, “Find a space that is free of distractions and has all the materials and supplies you need on hand” (Parsons, 2022). It has also been proven that this helps improve memory retention and overall efficiency, as your brain is able to devote more attention to learning and problem-solving.

Another tip for successful studying is to set specific goals for yourself throughout the process. For example, study distraction-free from 2 to 4 p.m. or review flashcards daily.

Goals should be specific and actionable. They should also be measurable, for instance, If I study for this long, I hope to get at least this score on the test.

Next, goals should be realistic to avoid feeling discouraged. Lastly, goals should be time-specific, aligning with your academic calendar and upcoming deadlines.

Lastly – and perhaps most obviously, yet most crucially, review, review, review. Student Lian Parsons also shares, “Practicing the information you have learned is the best way to retain information” (Parsons, 2022). Researchers also note that reviewing flashcards is a more challenging approach than simply reading a textbook, but it leads to better long-term learning.

A common analogy for reviewing class material is weightlifting; just as our muscles grow through consistent lifting, our brains get sharper through consistent review of what we have been taught.

As we enter this week, let us give special attention to studying smarter, not harder. By removing distractions, creating study goals, and reviewing consistently, we can go into midterm week feeling more prepared than ever. Good luck, and happy test-taking!