First things first:
- Exam preparation does not always have to go according to plan. It’s more important to stay flexible and not give up.
- Breaks are an integral part of an efficient learning schedule.
- Try different study techniques to stay motivated.
The end of the semester means stress for a lot of students. Before the roughly 2.9 million students in Germany can enjoy their semester break, they have to get through weeks of exams, papers, and oral tests. How can you make sure these last few weeks don’t push you over the edge?
We’ve all been there. At the start of the semester, motivation is high and you’re determined to start studying early this time. But then reality kicks in, and three days before the exam, you’re the first one in the library and the last one to close your laptop at the end of the day. 12-hour study sessions, binge-learning at its best. Sure, you might get through the exams, but stress-free and effective? Not so much.
Exam periods are stressful enough on their own with the sheer amount of material you have to cover. But with the right preparation, you can significantly lower your stress levels. Here’s how:
I. Get an overview at an early stage
Calendar
As the semester comes to an end and exam season approaches, it’s a good idea to mark all your exam dates and deadlines in a calendar.
This way, you can visualize the time you have for preparation between exams and plan your study schedule accordingly. This helps avoid the stress of preparing for too many exams at once. Don’t forget to include non-study-related commitments in your calendar as well, so you can manage your time effectively.
Types of exams
Essays, open-book exams, multiple-choice tests… Each exam type has different requirements and levels of preparation needed.
Do you know where to find relevant literature and electronic resources for your essays? Have you got the approved textbooks for your exams? Do you need to focus on detailed knowledge, or are broader concepts more important? Are you ready for application-based questions?
Past exams and summaries from upper-year students can be really helpful. Now is the time to gather all your materials so you don’t waste precious time during the actual exam period.
Learning plan as your roadmap
Sometimes, the sheer amount of material can be overwhelming, and you don’t know where to start. Creating a study plan can help you structure your study material and break it down into realistic goals, so you can tackle it bit by bit. This way, you keep track of what needs to be covered, your progress, and the time left until the exam.
Making a plan is already the first step of your exam prep. By gathering your materials and breaking down the content into smaller sections, you’re already diving into the subject matter and getting a sense of the key points. With this framework in place, you’ve killed two birds with one stone, and taken the first steps.
From big picture to details – when to study what?
It’s important to break down the content into small, manageable chunks and spread them out over a realistic timeframe. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to cover too much in too little time. Prioritize key points to avoid getting bogged down by less important details.
What should you study when? A detailed study plan gives your day structure. The more specific your daily schedule, the easier it is to stay focused. If your plan is too vague or doesn’t include specific time slots, you’re more likely to get sidetracked. Also, planning specific break times helps you stick to your schedule.
II. Studying efficiently
In the tightly scheduled exam phase, it’s crucial to use your time wisely and stick to your study plan. But distractions, procrastination, concentration issues, and loss of motivation can make this difficult.
Stick to the study plan
It might have looked easy on paper, but now that you’re trying to follow it, it’s just not working out? If you’re struggling with your study plan, adjust it. You don’t have to get it right the first time.
If you’re more focused in the morning, schedule challenging tasks like memorization or tackling difficult concepts then. If you’re a night owl, don’t force yourself to start at 6 am. Notice you’re losing focus? It might be that your study blocks are too long or the tasks too monotonous. Switch up the topics or types of activities. Experiment with what works for you and don’t get discouraged.
Know your learning style
Are your own notes the best way for you to prepare, or do you absorb material better through group discussions? Knowing your learning style and which techniques work best for you can save you a lot of frustration.
Not all study materials are tailored to suit everyone’s needs. While visual learners benefit from highlighting and making notes, auditory learners might do better by listening to podcasts. If you learn best with others, you might be more of a communicative learner.
Breaks
Taking breaks the right way: During the exam period, it can be hard to stick to regular breaks. When the workload is overwhelming, breaks often get neglected. However, they’re essential for maintaining concentration over a longer period and processing all the information.
Make sure to include regular breaks in your study schedule. Sitting at your desk for eight hours straight, re-reading the same paragraph, and not absorbing it is a sign you need a break—without feeling guilty!
Not every break might be effective for you. How can you make the most of your short breaks? Get up, move around a bit, go outside for a few minutes, or simply open a window and get some fresh air.
Avoid using your break time for tasks like making phone calls or paying bills, as these activities don’t count as rest and won’t help you recharge.
Scheduled time-outs as a reward: Longer breaks shouldn’t be skipped either, even during exam season. Your body needs these to recover from stress and to recharge. Even if exercise isn’t your go-to form of relaxation, it can be a great stress reliever. Use these longer breaks as rewards for completing study goals and to keep your motivation high. Plan some time for enjoyable activities.
Staying focused
When study sessions get monotonous, distractions seem to pop up everywhere. Suddenly, the fridge needs cleaning, the plants need watering, and the family chat is way more exciting than your textbook.
It’s normal for your brain to seek out new stimuli. A glance out the window, a notification ping… All these distractions disrupt your focus. Even minor interruptions can significantly impact your work quality. A study by Michigan State University found that short interruptions doubled the error rate in a given task. So, how can you stay focused?
Cutting off distractions: To maintain focus, you need to prevent your brain from constantly seeking out new stimuli. Put your phone in another room, clean up your desk, turn off Wi-Fi, block social media sites for specific time slots, find a separate study space, use headphones to block out background noise, and keep a “side list” for all those random tasks that suddenly pop into your head and steal your focus.
The list could go on and on. The key is to recognize your personal distractions and tackle them head-on.
Pomodoro technique: With this time management method, you can keep your concentration levels high for longer periods, and it fits well with your study plan.
How does it work? It’s simple. You study in 25-minute sessions followed by a short 5-minute break. Then, start the next 25-minute session, and so on. After four Pomodoro sessions, take a longer break (15 to 20 minutes). This breaks your day into effective study phases and necessary break times.
This sequence of manageable 25-minute intervals with the regular permission to indulge in distractions for 5 minutes allows you to stay focused longer and reach your daily goals.
Paralyzing perfectionism
Even with good preparation, sometimes it feels like it’s not enough. Seeing classmates who are three chapters ahead or missing your study plan for a few days can make you want to give up. Don’t be too hard on yourself and take breaks when needed, even if they’re unplanned. Sometimes, taking a step back is more beneficial than forcing yourself to keep studying.
Exams aren’t rocket science, and you don’t always need to ace them. Keep going and do your best. Good luck with your next exam season!
By the way, you can find plenty of resources for exam prep in our online shop.
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