Manage Your Midterms in 1-2-3

For some, midterms might be over, while for others, they’re starting. Whichever way, these strategies support test-takers throughout the school year.

I recall my 11-year-old coming home looking defeated, then blurting out, “I didn’t know my farher. I couldn’t answer most of the questions.” I knew he had studied and is a bright, somewhat disorganized boy. Where had he gone wrong? “I only got to review the parts that I knew. I never got to the end and most of the questions were based on that.” Bingo! Of course, he didn’t know the answers if he hadn’t reviewed the material! 

How to prepare for tests isn’t a subject covered in any school curriculum, yet it is important not only for school, but for life! It requires creating a study plan, which, by the way, is unique to each brain, and information organization skills with solid comprehension. It often leads to overwhelm or avoidance, but it doesn’t need to! As an Exam Expert, I’ll share some of the powerful study strategies we recommend. 

Why do students prefer to review what they already know, instead of practicing what they don’t? Because it feels good. The feeling of ‘knowledge is power’ is what many students are after, but they don’t realize it’s an illusion unless you know all the material, which is empowering. And then, at test-taking time, they suddenly realize that they don’t know. And don’t know how to, you know, just know. 

So how do we shift this over? 

Tip #1: Know what you know 

Here is a simple strategy that can be game-changing: Guide your test-takers in assessing their knowledge of the material being tested.

To do so easily, create a Know/No-Know/Know folder. 

• Grab a stiff piece of paper, hold it in landscape orientation and fold up the bottom ¼, pressing the crease with your fingernail. 

• Staple the two sides and you’ve got a folder. 

• Fold the folder into a triple-fold so you have three, equal divisions. 

• Now, grab a red and green marker (or any 2 colors). 

• Write Know (check mark icon) in green on the first one; Know/No (? icon) in green & red for the middle one; and No (X icon) in red for the last one. 

This play on words with the icons and color-coding helps with organizing and sorting the info. 

• Finally, all information on the tests should be sorted into these three categories so test-takers will know where to spend most of the time studying. 

Students start off studying with the No, slowly shifting information over to the Know/No and then to Know. The information can be rewritten on index cards, diagrams can be folded into the right category or students can simply create a table with these three divisions and sort information that way. 

The point is to categorize, prioritize and study the stuff that needs review.

Tip #2: Flashcard Review 

This may sound old-fashioned but flashcards work! It provides immediate feedback and allows for retrieval practice by running through the stack more than once. Creating flashcards is a way of actively engaging with the material. Flashcards should be used to review terms and definitions and to organize and link information. Use color-coding for different categories and write all of the information on one side, so the information is linked in the brain. (Remember when you recall the term but can’t get what was on the other side of the card?) Now, test yourself or ask someone to test you. Create two piles of cards: one you know and the other that you don’t know. Practice and concentrate on learning the pile you don’t know. The next day, or later, mix both piles together, see what you don’t know and flash those again. Repeat the process as many times as needed.

Tip #3: Post the Post It 

Get test studiers to do a brain dump- jotting down important information, including terms, dates or what they keep on forgetting on a neon post it note.

Put that note where it will be seen the next morning- on the mirror in the bathroom or on the kitchen fridge and review out loud while brushing teeth or filling up the water bottle. Let them move the post-it along with them as they get ready to go. 

Best of luck! Test studying should be strategic and enjoyable.
Don’t study hard. Study smart.