Time management is always a problem for busy students. When you've already filled your schedule with classes, homework, and labs, how can you make the time to study for an upcoming standardized test?
Students often make the mistake of waiting to prepare until their schedules clear up enough to commit to several hours of study each day. But that never happens, so test day approaches and they have to drop everything for a few days of all-out cramming. Does that sound familiar?
The good news is that there's a better prep method that decreases stress and improves scores, and all it requires is moderation and consistency.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: A bit every day, consistently
Here's How:
- How much preparation do you think you need for your test?
I want you to take a few minutes to set a goal of the total number of hours you need to study before the test, or if you have a specific study guide book that you're following, set your goal as the number of pages you have to get through before test day. Be sure to consider every subject area that is covered by the test. This should represent the overall amount of studying you need to do to achieve your target score on the test. - How many days do you have until the test?
The key to decreased stress and top scores is moderate, consistent studying. So you're going to distribute your total studying goal over all of the days left until the test and commit to study a bit each day. Your daily goal could be a specific amount of time spent studying, a certain number of pages to read, a certain number of practice problems to solve, or some combination of those. It needs to be an amount that can become a habit for you. - When are you going to study?
I want you to develop a habit of consistent studying, and the key to successfully establishing habits is linking the new activity to a habit you already have. Think about your daily routine: we all wake up, eat several meals a day, and go to sleep, among other daily habits. So I want you to pick a daily activity and link your study time to it to establish the habit of studying consistently. For example, if you're really pressed for time, you could link studying to your lunch break to add a good 20 minutes of studying to your daily routine. - Be consistent.
Once you've set a daily time for your specific study goal, consider it as an appointment and a promise to yourself. Finish your goal in one block each day, and don't allow yourself to be distracted by anything else during that time. You deserve to approach test day at a slow and steady pace, not in a mad dash. This method of consistent daily studying will do wonders for your confidence and performance on the test.