how many days to you spend studying for a test

[wlee43]

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During freshmen year I used to start a week before exam but now with research and EC I'm studying like 3 days before exam but getting better grades. I think I was beginning to forget the info when I studied too early

 

[Poliscidoc]

During freshmen year I used to start a week before exam but now with research and EC I'm studying like 3 days before exam but getting better grades. I think I was beginning to forget the info when I studied too early

Normally I start 2-3 days before and normally cram the night before.

 

[sc4s2cg]

2 weeks on average, depends on the material.

I'm starting to get in the habit of studying everyday, so I won't get behind. While I got A's when I studied just 2-3 days, I don't remember anything now. And that just won't fly in either med school, the mcat, or even cumulative finals.

 

[muhali3]

My cramming strategy hasn't failed yet. But I keep up with what is going on in class...so I never really study before an exam...it's pretty much review.

 

[steel88]

Depends on the class. Statistics I've been studying 2-3 hours before the test and getting 100's. Chemistry I'll study 4-5 days before usually, not linearly though. Maybe 1-2 hours the first 2 days then a lot more in the final days.

 

[PressPforPi]

Well, I do an hour everyday for each subject. Generally, there isn't much studying done in preparation "for" a test. I just attempt to master the material.

I read the chapter once, do a summary in my own words, do the vocab, read the powerpoint/listen to the lecture, and then that's it.

 

[Goosh]

0 days. For every problem set I have, I mark two dates on my calendar. The first one is roughly two weeks away. The second one is roughly 2 months away. One those dates, I review all the topics of that problem set. With such a strategy I actually save time. When you don't review something for months you tend to completely forget it to the point where you pretty much have to re-learn it. If you review at appropriate intervals, you don't have to do much re-learning and you'll have perfect recall on test day. The other benefit is that I don't have to worry about the stress of cramming.

 

[DAPI]

Freshman year I spent over a week studying for gen bio tests and still got pwn'd, but now (I'm a junior) I spend 2 days (about 3-4 solid hours each) studying and ace the tests. This includes classes like O-Chem, BioChem, Genetics, Molecular Cell Biology, Calculus and so on.

Basically I take decent notes in class making sure to note what's important to the professor, and then go through those notes with the book the first day and make really good outlines (ignoring what the professor may have sent out cause its normally miss-leading) and the second day memorize the little details. I generally am able to learn the big picture just by going to class.

Also, I am at a LAC so details are not all that important compared to truly understanding the big picture and being able to critically think through a question and analyze it.

 

[ReptarBar]

^ unfair.

 

[apumic]

Does the day of the test count? Also, does the day you went to class count? If so, typically 2... 3 if the class gets the prof to have a "review" day.

 

[Genefreak]

It depends....a try to study each subject for a little bit everyday(except GenEd's) but that is not always possible. For chem/physics anywhere from 3-5 before, sometimes I have started the night before. For physics that a another story by itself

 

[orthomyxo]

I can never get myself to study seriously until the day before/day of the exam. Works well for bio classes...not so much for organic. But my organic class is insane anyway. Protip: steer clear of professors who have class averages of roughly 30-40.

 

[mfrizzo3]

17

 

[Charles English]

Days?
😎

 

[mvenus929]

However many days there are between exams. Minus about a day a week for a mental health day. If I'm lucky, I can do pure studying (rather than learning + studying) for two or three days before an exam. If I'm not lucky, I do pure studying the day of the exam.

 

[Godric]

My motto, "the exam is tomorrow". Now I dont follow it to the letter but, this semester I have kept true to it in most of my harder classes. I study a little bit each day for every class. If I have a lot to do between work and school work I sometimes study some of my easier classes every other day. This way when exam's actually roll around I dont have that much studying to do, I just either have to read notes, or practice a bit, but unlike the other undergrads I am not cramming all night long. I also should mention I work about 25-30 hours week and it cuts into my sleeping time and so thats why my studying technique is the way it is, I have to manage my time by factoring in sleep, commute time, classes, extra cric, and work. If i was to leave everything to the last day then I would really be screwed. This also helps me get some off time, if I am all caught up in my studying, then often I am a little ahead also, and so I can take it easy, and just chill and relax.

 

[SimplyMars9]

a few hours... honestly.

No matter how hard I try I always find myself putting off to the last minute, saying "this is the last time"...but whenever I get my grades back and see that I managed to score 85+... like they say, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.