Your test is coming up in six days, and thankfully, you're ahead of the game (no cramming from you, right?). By giving yourself a number of days to prepare, you reduce the amount of study time needed per session. Cool, huh? Here's a study schedule to help you prepare for a test that's six days away. Have less time? Check out the study schedules below for fewer days.
Study schedule for the night before a test| 2 days before | 3 days before | 4 days before | 5 days before
Study Schedule Day 1: Ask and Read:
In School:
- Ask your teacher what type of test it will be. Multiple choice? Essay?That'll make a difference in how you prepare.
- Ask your teacher for a review sheet if he/she hasn't already given you one. (i.e. test content)
- Get a study partner set up for the night before the test if possible – even via phone/facebook/Skype.
- Take home your review sheet and textbook.
At Home:
- Eat some brain food.
- Read your review sheet, so you know what's going to be on the test.
- Reread the chapters in the textbook that will be on the test.
- That's it for day one!
Study Schedule Day 2: Organize and Make Flashcards:
In School:
- Pay attention in class – your teacher may be going over things that will be on the test!
- Take home your handouts, assignments, and former quizzes along with your textbook and review sheet.
At Home:
Study Schedule Day 3: Memorize
In School:
- Throughout the day, pull your flashcards out and ask yourself questions (when you're waiting for class to start, at lunch, during study hall, etc.)
- Clarify anything you didn't totally understand with your teacher. Ask for missing items (that vocab quiz from chapter 2).
- Ask if there will be a review before the test later this week.
At Home:
- Set a timer for 45 minutes, and memorize everything on the review sheet that you don't already know using mnemonic devices like acronyms or singing a song. Stop after 45 minutes and move on to other homework. You have three more days to study for this bad boy!
- Put your flashcards in your backpack for more review tomorrow.
Study Schedule Day 4: Memorize Some More
In School:
- Again, pull your flashcards out and ask yourself questions throughout the day.
At Home:
- Set a timer for 45 minutes again. Go back through your flashcards and review sheet, memorizing anything you don't have down pat. Stop after 45 minutes. You're done for the day!
- Put your flashcards in your backpack for review again tomorrow.
Study Schedule Day 5: Finalizing memory
In School:
- Throughout the day, pull your flashcards out and ask yourself questions again.
- Confirm study date with a friend for tomorrow evening.
At Home:
- Set your timer for 45 minutes and run through your flashcards and review sheet. Take a 5 minute break. Repeat the process until your content knowledge is better than your teacher's.
Study Schedule Day 6: Review and Quiz
In School:
- If your teacher is having an exam review today, pay close attention and write down anything you haven't learned yet. If the teacher mentions it today – it's on the test, guaranteed!
At Home:
- Ten-twenty minutes before your study partner (or mom) shows up to quiz you for the exam, review your flashcards. Make sure you have everything down pat.
- Quiz. When your study partner arrives, take turns asking possible exam questions to each other. Make sure each of you has a turn asking and answering because you'll learn the material best by doing both. Stop once you've been through the questions a few times and get a good night's sleep.
