Year-end exams are right around the corner — are you ready? Finishing school with a strong transcript gives you a leg up in scholarship applications, so it’s no wonder a recent study by online learning community 

Brainly showed that 56% of students are anxious about their year-end exams.  

Want a few tips to help you ace those tests? Consider these suggestions from Patrick Quinn, a parenting expert at Brainly, a former teacher and the father of three school-age kids. 

  • Read and review — early and often. Start preparing for your exams as early as possible. Don’t wait until the week before! According to the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve principle, we forget 70% of what we have learned within 24 hours. Going over new ideas a day after class will help increase retention and comprehension, so make time each evening for a quick review. Break chapters into sections and review the material at the end of each one before moving on. Make notes by summarizing the critical aspects of the reading so you can easily review them without having to reread entire chapters. Bookmark difficult sections to revisit later. 
  • Set study goals. For each study session, set a goal to keep track of what you’re studying or revising. Here are some examples: 
    • I will work through at least five equations. 
    • I will summarize Chapters 5 and 6.  
    • I will understand and learn the key concepts that were taught during weeks one through three.
  • Study to suit your learning style. Your learning style will help you know the best ways to prepare for an exam. For instance, if you are an auditory learner, you may benefit from recording your notes and listening to them later, or you can listen to recordings of the class itself. If you are a visual learner, pictures and diagrams can help you remember key points. 
  • Establish rules for study time. Unless you’re using online tools to study, it’s a smart idea to remove phones and laptops from your study area to prevent distractions. Every ding from a text message takes away from valuable study time. When your brain is constantly switching back and forth between social and academic spheres, you also lose a chance to work on your focus and stamina during a test. If you are studying for a lengthier amount of time, pre-schedule breaks with set time limits.  
  • Take care of yourself. In the days leading up to an exam, get eight hours of sleep every night, drink plenty of water and get adequate amounts of exercise. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which can give you more energy and better comprehension. Yoga or a stretching session can help with concentration and focus. Don’t skip breakfast on the morning of the test. And right before your exam, do a 10-minute power study so your brain is turned on and tuned up.