It’s that time of year! While we as parents are experiencing all of the hustle and bustle of holiday preparation, our students are busy getting ready for semester exams. While a single test never tells the whole story when it comes to student learning, a lot of students find exams stressful, and they want to do their best. Have you ever wondered how you can help your student prepare for exams and come out on the other side still full of Christmas cheer? Well, we can’t promise any Christmas miracles, but we can point you to some helpful tips and best practices.
Here’s the rundown:
Tip #1: Create an organizational structure for the material you’re studying. Whether this be an outline, a word map, color-coded notes, sets of flashcards, or anything else, if you can create the organizational structure that works for you, your learning is more likely to stick, and you’ll make better connections. The reason for this is because of a fundamental feature of human learning. We learn by making connections and identifying patterns. If we can place discreet facts within a framework, we’re much more likely to remember them. This is the basic theory behind why techniques like mnemonic devices are so effective.
Tip #2: Work with your teacher to make sure that you know what is going to be assessed on the exam. While a teacher may not give you each question, they will be more than happy to review the big ideas with you. Landmark teachers are especially invested in their students’ success, and they will take extra time to help if you just reach out to them. If you want to take advantage of the extra help, schedule a session with them in advance in order to be respectful of their time as well.
Tip #3: Take advantage of the exam review days. There are two full class periods set aside specifically for exam review. Don’t miss these days, and lock in! Be on the lookout for study guides, review tips, and hints.
After a few silent nights of studying, you’ll be well on your way to a Christmas break full of glad tidings and good cheer!!
For more info and a deeper dive, check out these tips from the Princeton Review.
