I'm awful at studying

[vin5cent0]

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O-chem and Genetics tests tomorrow.. Been studying a few hours a night for the past 3 days for O-chem, just started studying today for genetics (it's all rote memorization anyways)... I'm already burned out. How the hell do you guys put in hours of studying every night for a test and stay consistent at it?! I feel like I already know everything I keep reading, yet the test will come around tomorrow and my teacher will surely have put a harder version of what I've been studying on it and completely throw me off.

 

[Red Leader]

I basically cram all the time, and I can pull it off every time better than my pals who study all the time so why change what works right?

It's about efficiency man, not the time you put in.

 

[akinetopsia]

Try not to cram. Do a little reading and practice every day. Consistency will help you out more than cramming. With that being said, cramming works for some people but I've found daily work to be easier to recall things and really understand the subjects better than attempting it the night before.

 

[apumic]

Everyone's approach is different.
What can I tell you works for me is to go to every class, take good notes to begin with, and skim-read my book (keeping up w/ class but not getting lost in the meaningless parts of the details -- understand the overarching themes/concepts/equations but don't get caught up on which chemical reacts in what way with what because what you really need to understand is why that rxn occurs or does not occur so that you can apply it conceptually to other situations). Then, when the test is around the corner, I begin doing practice problems. I usually start those a few days before the test and spend a few minutes each day doing a few problems (generally focusing on older material as the new stuff is fresh in my mind). Usually I'll also go to any supplemental instruction classes offered the week before the test. The day of the test, I will usually do one last skim through of the most important figures, example problems, and bolded terms (or anything else that looks important) as well as note the general outline of the chapter(s) again. Finally, when I actually take the test, I will often do a sort of "brain dump" of anything I suspect I might forget later on during the test itself and expect to need (this includes confusing or complicated equations that I am afraid I might switch 2 terms or something). That "brain dump" serves a number of purposes: 1) it actually gets my mind into the mode of the test, 2) it primes my memory of other key concepts, 3) it prevents confusion later on in the test if a complex equation is needed, and 4) by keeping a sort of table of knowledge at the beginning of the test, it allows me to correct any errors I may make in a problem due to memory errors that are then "corrected" later on by a question that actually contains the answer to another question on the test. Hope that helps.... It's what I've found tends to work well for me across subjects (from biology to philosophy, psychology to chemistry, and music to physics...).

 

[Yudid]

Start studying at least week before ur exams

 

[WhizoMD]

Start studying at least week before ur exams

i always find this kinda funny when professors say it, since we usually have yet to go over about 40-50% of the material we'll be tested on, when it's a week before the test.

 

[Disinence2]

hmm "Burning out" after studying a couple hours a day for 3 days.... I'd hate to judge but that seems a bit weak. Are you burnt out, or just bored with studying? Even as an undergrad I'd try to take at least 5 days before an exam, assuming I was already caught up. Over the next few years you build up a bit of an endurance to studying... In med school you will learn that even studying 1 week before a test is a recipe for disaster.

Keep in mind if you absolutely hate studying, your gonna have a bad time your first 2 years. Do you still get burnt out studying for the subjects you were interested it?

 

[Yudid]

I guess vin5cent0 burnt out because his/her prof is not good, thats why studying is boring. It was w/ me last year, i hated my o-chem prof and hated studying for his class, i was getting burnt out even if i was looking at o-chem book.

 

[Magnetek Blue]

Disinence2 is right: You have to build up a tolerance. If you've never studied for extended periods before, it is very difficult.

 

[MedicineMike]

starting three days out is fine...for one test! If I had a genetics and orgo test on the same day I would definitely start about a week in advance. A few hours a night doesn't really cut it...

Are you having trouble focusing? ADD?

 

[FirefighterDoc]

what also could be contributing is other extracurriculars. The OP failed to mention if they had any other E.Cs that are contributing being burnt out. I myself work a part time and afull time job while being a full time student and im burnt out by regular studying, let alone studying for a test. ( il will be taking my full time job to part time in october thank god)

 

[iCY]

O-chem and Genetics tests tomorrow.. Been studying a few hours a night for the past 3 days for O-chem, just started studying today for genetics (it's all rote memorization anyways)... I'm already burned out. How the hell do you guys put in hours of studying every night for a test and stay consistent at it?! I feel like I already know everything I keep reading, yet the test will come around tomorrow and my teacher will surely have put a harder version of what I've been studying on it and completely throw me off.

1 - you already know why you are going to do bad on genetics b/c you were already justifying it "it's all rote memorization ANYWAYS". you know that you waited too long. how old are you? hasn't it become apparent to you that studying 3 nights before a exam, ESPECIALLY ORGO = fail? I'm usually DONE studying for a test 3 days before the exam.

cram = fail. unless you're one of the lucky few who are good at it. which you aren't so stop making excuses and admit that you need to start studying earlier.

 

[Mitch556]

how did you do

 

[BoxerCar12]

I think the biggest step is keeping up with reading/notes and/or getting ahead...This is the biggest thing...if you fall behind in reading/notes you are just setting yourself up for failure.
I typically start studying lightly a few days before an exam, and then study very hard the night or two before (depending on other events i have...) and make sure I get at least a decent nights sleep (if possible).

 

[Van Chowder]

"Don't work hard, work smart."
-Doctor House

 

[Gallix23]

Don't just study what you have there, make it more challenging for yourself. Pick a concept, and ask yourself "ok, what are the different ways that questions about this can be formed?" and try to form questions and then answers to those questions yourself. By doing this, you'll solidify the information in your head, as well as expand your ability to approach different types of questions.

Also, when trying to memorize processes and things, this is a technique I use: When I needed to memorize the steps for Endochondral Ossification and Muscular Contraction for A & P in HS I'd write out all the steps, then read step one and step two, then cover the paper and say them in my head a few times. Then, I'd read step one, two, and three, then cover the paper and say them back to myself in my head, then I'd add four, then five, then six etc. etc. By doing it this way, you start to dig the order of things into your head, so by the time you reach steps in the 20's, everything up to 15 or so is like clockwork because you have that rhythm in your mind.

 

[Optimalsauce]

spaced training ftw

 

[thedoctor8706]

If you know it well enough to teach, you'll probably know it well enough to ace an exam. Try teaching your knowledge to a friend or a wall if you don't have one.