You have a test tomorrow and you “forgot” to study. Or, at least, you’ve experienced this feeling before. That’s okay – we all have to cram sometimes. But, it’s not a very effective way to study? So, how can we make the most of a bad situation and cram in a way that’s actually productive?
Make a study plan
The first thing you should do is make a plan: decide on what you want to study, how you want to study it (i.e. the study methods you’ll use), and how long each study session or break is going to be. Ideally, make sure that you write this down somewhere or put it into your schedule. This will help you organise your cramming time more effectively and prevent procrastination! If you’re not sure on how to make a study plan, this post will help you!
Read the syllabus
You have to be clear on what exactly you’ll be tested on. This is super important, so that you don’t miss out on a concept or you don’t waste time on irrelevant topics. Check the syllabus to see what exactly you need to know for the test, and focus on that exclusively. If you’re in the British system, you can easily find the specification for your exam by searching up your exam boards name (e.g. AQA, Edexcel), the qualification you’re doing (GCSE or A-level), and the subject (e.g. Spanish, economics, maths, etc.).
Prioritise!
Do not waste time studying what you already know. Focus on the topics you’re worst at so that you have an even understanding of the subject. Make a list of everything you need to know, then number them from lowest to highest based on how well you know the content – the higher the number, the more confident you are in your knowledge for that topic. Only study the topics that you rated the lowest.
Don’t waste time
If you’re cramming, you presumably don’t have a lot of time. So, don’t waste it by studying using passive recall methods. That’s because passive recall methods have much lower yield compared to active recall: you remember less information per hour spent studying with passive recall than you would remember if you were to use active recall. Ditch the note-taking and switch to active recall immediately! Flashcards, past papers, and practice questions are simply the most effective ways to study.
This video will help you if you don’t know what active recall is:
Avoid distractions
In the same vein of not wasting time, make sure you don’t get distracted. Block any apps or websites that you might waste time on (the Chrome web extension, Stay Focusd, is great for this!), and ask your family or roommates not to disturb you. Similarly, while you might like to listen to music or have a podcast on in the background while you study, this will only slow you down. Cramming is a race against time, so you need to lock in and stay focused.
