How do I Know What to Study?

One of the biggest challenges for me was figuring out what exactly to study when it came to test days. College classes cover material at alarming speeds, and if you ever get lost in a lecture or miss a day of school, you could really fall behind in a class. When it comes around to test time, I had a difficult time figuring out what was considered important information and what wasn't. When it comes to knowing what to study, here are a few tips to try:

• Get a feel for the class. Every class is different and will test you in different ways. In my Spanish classes, we were tested more on our ability to use Spanish rather than memorize it. These tests were harder to study for; mostly practice and a general understanding of the language will get you through it. On the other hand, my criminal justice class was built around numerous vocabulary words and definitions. For this class I ended up making note cards and that served me well.
• Listen to the professor. Many professors will give you hints as to what they will test you on. Also, many will take time out of the class to review and go over how the test will be structured.
• Go to office hours. Some professors won't tell you what the test is about during class time. If you are unsure, I would highly recommend going to office hours. This shows the professor that you're willing to take time out of your busy schedule to meet with them. Also, some will give more hints to those who show up to office hours because it shows that the student really cares about the class.

Sadly, it is hard to get a grasp on what the professor tests on until after the first test. The first exam is your first exposure to how the course material is tested. Many students end up doing poorly on first tests, but once they see how the professor structures exams, they have a much better grasp on how to study.

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony










Also, if you have a second check out my newest post on the Equature blog! It's about keeping a cool head in high pressure situations.