Tips on How to Study for Midterms in High School & College
School is back in session after the summer or holiday break and you’re doing well juggling your course load until - midterms. They can sneak up on you and leave you feeling unprepared, but don’t fret, midterms can actually be a useful tool for understanding which classes you’re doing well in and which classes you may need to dedicate more of your time to. Whether in high school or college, midterms can be daunting and stressful, so here are some tips to avoid overwhelm and study for midterms like a pro:
Make Your Own Study Guide
Yes, you can use the professor/teacher’s study guide, but you’ll likely find it much more helpful to write your own. Taking this step can give you some perspective on which areas you’ll need to focus more on and how much time you’ll need overall.
Break Studying Up & Stick to a Schedule
Ah, the dreaded all-nighter. It’s well-known to many students around the globe, yet not actually an effective way to study. Your brain is much more likely to absorb information if it’s broken into chunks over a longer amount of time rather than cramming everything in the night before. Plan out what topics to study and when to study them in 10-15 minute intervals.
Start Early
Taking tip #2 into account, you’ll need to start studying for midterms early. Make your study guide and plan a study schedule at least a week in advance so you have plenty of time to go over all the topics you need to before the big exam.
Organize a Study Group
Getting together with a group of fellow students is great to keep you motivated, you can bounce ideas or questions off each other, and help one another out with study tools like flash cards or quiz each other on important information.
Stay Well-rested
Staying up late every night studying and depriving yourself of sleep won’t ultimately help you do better on your midterms. Stay well-rested leading up to and the night before an exam and your test scores will likely reflect your mental state (given that you also studied).
Turn off your Cell Phone & Avoid Social Media
Social media and text conversations are very tempting forms of procrastination. To keep yourself focused, turn your phone off for your study sessions. If you’ll be using your computer for studying, download an app or browser extension like StayFocusd that blocks the websites you find most distracting.
Take Breaks
It’s important to give your mind a break every so often. If you’ve been studying for a while, reward yourself with some time to rest and recharge or use that time to exercise which can boost your energy and help you stay focused for your next study session.
Try a Relaxation Technique
Anxiety, stress, and panic may start to rear their ugly heads the closer you get to exam day, so take some time to try a relaxation technique like yoga or meditation. Simply shutting your eyes and taking some deep breaths can also help ease anxiety and stress.
Studying for midterms isn’t necessarily fun, but it can be less painful if you take the time to make a study plan and stick to it. Know what topics to study and don’t sacrifice your physical and mental health for the study process. Coming into the classroom on test day with a clear mind and healthy body will do wonders for your test scores. Hopefully these tips helped you understand how to study for midterms and best of luck on your exams!
About NSHSS
Since 2002, NSHSS has supported young academics on their journey to college and beyond as they prepare to become the leaders of tomorrow. The mission behind NSHSS is to recognize academic excellence and honor high-achieving students, providing them with the resources and network to excel in college, career and community. In doing so, NSHSS connects members with global events, scholarships, college fairs, internships, career and leadership programs, partner discounts, and more. Discover what makes NSHSS worth it to student members and how you can get involved.
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