9 Tips for More Effective Study Time During Exams

You study for around six to eight hours every day. So, when exam season arrives, such as during PTS or PAS, you are ‘forced’ to study longer and as often as possible. In order to repeat all the lessons that have been passed. Of course it will be very ineffective if you spend the whole night preparing for the exam the next day. Better yet, try seven simple tips for studying effectively during this exam period !

1. Make a daily activity schedule

Who among you likes to make ‘ to do lists ‘ or daily to-do lists? This can help you to be more disciplined and productive, especially in studying. You can arrange a precise daily schedule, if necessary, from waking up to going to sleep again, so that your activities are more organized.

You can also determine when to start studying, the duration of the study period, what you want to study, and the target. Make sure that this daily activity schedule is carried out regularly and with discipline, so that it becomes a daily habit.

2. Study 30 minutes

A study from Dow University recommends giving specific time to study each subject. The reason is, so you can stay focused on one topic . Basically, our brain can only absorb information effectively during the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes when studying.

This means that everything you learn in the middle of that time is the easiest for you to forget quickly. Our brains are not always able to absorb many things at the same time. Therefore, you can use 30 minutes.

3. Create a priority scale

So that your study time can run more effectively, you can also create a priority scale. To do this, you sort the things you need to do from the most important. Well, this is the most important thing, which means you have to do it first. For example, in studying for a Mathematics test .

You must have got a grid of what materials/topics will be covered in the exam, right? From here, you can sort what material you haven’t mastered first, so you can study it first. So, your preparations will be much better!

4. Give yourself a break

After 30 minutes of focusing on studying, take a short break by doing other activities that refresh your memory. For example, by reading a chapter of a favorite novel that you haven’t finished reading or singing two songs.

Absorbing information half by half is easier to do than absorbing it all directly. So that you can maximize brain performance in the next 30 minutes, taking a short break is definitely very useful.

5. Set a timer when working on difficult assignments or questions

When you face a task deadline or a certain problem that is quite difficult, you will definitely be busy wondering how to complete it in the remaining time available. Set  a timer for 30 minutes for you to specifically work on these assignments and questions. Remember, just focus on doing the task or problem!

6. Set the time

Instead of studying one whole subject all night, you should divide it into several parts at different times. For example, in the evening you only spend two hours, including a 30 minute break in between; and during the day you do the same. Take advantage of this time to provide other nutrients for your body by getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food.

7. Study at the study table

Indeed, sitting in bed with a folding table in your lap feels more comfortable. However, this ‘excessive’ comfort will actually confuse your focus when studying. Use your bed only to rest and take advantage of your study table. If you still choose to study in bed, it will take you a while to fight the comfort.

8. Understand the material, not memorize

Did you know, when we memorize material, the brain will store it more quickly, but it’s also easier to forget it. Meanwhile, understanding the material may be much more difficult, but when you really understand it, you will master various types of questions much better and be able to remember them for a long time.

Therefore, when studying, use your time as effectively as possible to understand the material, OK? If it’s difficult, you can invite your friend who is better at the material, or ask a private teacher .

9. Textbooks and notebooks

Studying while rewriting important points will also increase your absorption capacity during the learning process. You can stick colorful sticky notes in your textbook to make it more enthusiastic. Write it in a place you often see.