Will this be on the test?

This question echoes throughout every classroom in the country. Locally, in The Woodlands, TX area, many high school and beginning college students struggle with the overwhelming amount of information to learn and the pressure to perform at a high level. Students want a way to focus on only what they NEED to know to get the right answers. However, much depends on a student’s own prior knowledge and the connections a student can make.

We never studied this!!!

One student stated, “I don’t want to accidentally learn something that might not be on the test.” And another said, “There were questions on the test that the teacher did not discuss in class!” The truth is, studying is not about memorizing a mountain of facts and details in isolation. Instead, shift the focus to real LEARNING. INTERACT with the text to make CONNECTIONS between concepts to see the big picture.

What Does Learning Look Like?

Adopting a practice of good study habits will serve you well, both on academic tests and in life. Prepare yourself from all angles. Look at multiple views of a subject. Test questions are designed to test what you have LEARNED from at least three sources:

1) What the teacher discusses in class/notes you take.

2) What you get from reading the text using the Cornell Notes method.

3) What you know from prior knowledge/cultural literacy or connections you can make.

Good Study Habits

· Find a quiet space free from distractions, but not too comfortable! Avoid lounging on a bed or sofa.

· Gather supplies: Paper, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, laptop, and notebook.

· Keep an open mind. Tap into curiosity about every subject.

· Do ACTIVE studying. Interact with the material. Highlight words and phrases that seem important.

· Write thoughts, summaries, and questions in the margin. Do not just stare at the page.

· Cornell Notes help you to take notes and develop your own questions that may be on a test.

· Make flashcards for new terms and concepts.

· Study in short time frames. 15 minutes-1 hour.

· Divide the information into smaller, workable amounts.

· Set a schedule with clear goals and stick to it.

· Take strategic breaks.

· YouTube can be a great source of videos for review. Be sure your source is credible.

Studying for tests is never fun, but working smarter, not harder can make the process more effective. When students better understand the strategies to use, they can move from staring at a page in a book to taking charge of their own learning.