Brainworks teaches their clients time management and organizational skills to avoid last minute cram sessions. These sessions are rarely effective because the brain can only store a limited amount of information at a time. Have you ever tried pouring an entire gallon of milk into a quart container using a straw? Most of it spills out. This, I think, is what is happens to students who try to "cram for exams". They procrastinate until the last minute to study and go into their exams not fully prepared. This habit also causes unnecessary anxiety. Although I do NOT recommend last minute studying, I realize many students do this. The following tips may help your student prepare for these exams more effectively than in the past.

1. Preparation

a. Review Sheet – It is important that your student not only fill out the review sheet, but she must also make sure her answers are correct. She can make flash cards from the review with the question on one side and the answer on the other. If she can answer the question in 3 seconds without any hints, she knows the material. Place those cards in the "I Know It Pile." The remaining cards need extra work and perhaps a dose of creativity. She can draw a picture to help her remember. Find a way to add color, motion, or try to make it funny. The brain remembers funny, colorful pictures longer than boring facts. I strongly suggest making flash cards with a partner to help generate ideas.

b. Chapter Reviews – She should be able to answer all the questions in the Chapter Reviews for ALL of her classes. For any questions or problems she does not know, she needs to make flash cards for review and use the "3 Second Rule" to test her memory.

c. Review previous tests for all her classes. Often, teachers use questions from old tests for part of their exams. For questions she cannot answer immediately, she must make flash cards. In math, rework the problems on the tests, especially the ones she missed and write down any formulas she must know on flash cards for review.

d. Vocabulary – She must know the vocabulary words for ALL of her classes. She can use Chapter Reviews, old tests and the exam review sheets to find the terms and words to learn. For the ones she does not know, she must make flash cards.

e. Essay Questions – Often the teacher will include possible essay questions on the review sheet. Your daughter should organize her thoughts and facts for EACH question. She can use outline form, mapping, or simple brainstorming – listing the facts she needs to know under each topic. She must have enough information to satisfy the teacher's length requirement for the essay. By doing this for every possible essay topic, she will have something of substance to write, instead of filler fluff.

f. Two to three days before the exam, your student can start using all the flash cards she made for a review. She should go through all the flash cards. When she knows all the answers in 3 seconds, she knows it! How long should she study? Until she can answer all the questions within 3 seconds.



2. Exam Day

a. Get a good night's sleep and think positive thoughts. Because she has studied and tested herself on all the material, she should be able to relax and not worry about the test. Remember, she made 100 on all the flash cards.

b. Avoid foods and beverages that will lead to a "sugar crash" and make students drowsy during the test. Plain water and protein snacks are good for the brain before taking tests. c. Just before the test, practice stress management to remain calm. Be sure she is on time for the exam. Your daughter should take deep breaths through her nose and slowly let the air out of her mouth. Do this at least 5 times. She needs to relax the muscles in her neck and shoulders. She should say to herself "I am prepared to the best of my ability. I have no reason to be anxious."


3. After the Exam

a. Your daughter should reward herself for the effort she put into preparing for the exams. She does not have to wait for her grade before she can celebrate. Effort counts and deserves a reward.

b. Your daughter should analyze whether she should study differently next time. She should ask herself "Now that I have seen the exam, if I had the same exam next week, how would I study differently?" Write down the answer to use for later reference.


Hopefully, these tips will help your student achieve the success she wants. Good Luck! From Brainworks eNews