Method for exam studies

13 November 2007, 10:25 pm. View comments. Filed under School.

Ten days since I finished my exams this year and I'm still not quite in holiday mode. Actually, I'm reminiscing that whole exam period because I'm being a freak right now. Every time I face exams I wonder how I got myself through the terrible period in all the previous exams. So here's recording how I motivated myself to get through it this time:

Short-term rewards: finish one topic and face a short break. As I got myself into an obsession with reading online love novels during exams, I rewarded myself by reading one chapter after every topic studied.
Pause the music: only play music during the short break, even if it means pausing right in the middle of a favourite track.
Practice papers in exam conditions: quiet space, limited time, full solitude and whatnot. When I couldn't be bothered to write practice essays or long answers, I did a plan with bulleted points.
Gathering ~~arrogance~~ confidence: bloat the small head with as much up-myself-ness as possible. Recite good course grades over and over again: Statistics 95.25% A+, Mathematics 97.9% A+, Economics 90.2% A+, Accounting 83.25% A-. Oh I'm so sure I can ace the exams. (Remembering to throw the darned Law 68% B- out the window because there's no need to clutter up the mind with junk like that before exams. I can do so much better. Yeah, right.)
Get fat: eat lots and lots of junk food and chocolate. That way, it's harder to get off the study chair to go out and mess around. This exam period was the time I spent the most on junk food. (But I also exercised because I didn't actually want to get as fat as not being able to lift my pen to write during exams.)
Shut MSN: but I can't resist that hottie on my contact list! Well um, I'm sure, my disappearance for a couple of days will just make him admit to himself that he totally can't live without me.

So that's how I got through my doom this October/November. For the whole 12 weeks of the semester I kept telling myself I will read through my notes so I don't need to study so much by exam time. Unfortunately, I still ended up cramming everything by writing summary exam notes during that very last week.

With the tips above though, I finished six weeks of Economics notes in two days, six weeks of accounting notes in one day, and the rest I didn't need notes for. But I assure you, Economics was crazy load.

I have nothing to prove my final exam performance with yet; still waiting for exam results. How do you motivate yourself for work you really don't want to do?

18 Comments »

Vera. 13 November 2007, 10:49 pm

I hated exams with a passion. Studied rather little, and ended up gaining way too much weight.

Good thing I made sure to get as far away from them as possible.
ForteXIV. 13 November 2007, 11:20 pm

It amazes me how people can actually sit down and study. I mean, for the past 10 years I have probably studied a grand total of around... 40 hours? Wow, I am so studious
My exam tips? I don't have any I can't ever get myself to study XD
Regina. 13 November 2007, 11:26 pm

Well, exams are a pain in the ass. I am a real procrastinator, so taking notes during the semester doesn't work for me. Now I have only to weeks to prepare myself for the first exam and I think I'm going to die, but allas, I don't care. I'm too old for that now, hihi.
I normally rely on my good memory when having exams, but I do take notes the week before. What an idiot.

Anyway, thanks for posting your approach. I don't think I could go on eating as much junk food as possible cause I'm very hard on myself. But I'd do have a bag of chocolates....that way the sugar will keep me awake even though the subject can be as boring as licking a spike.
Summa. 14 November 2007, 12:30 am

could that hottie be... me? =b

haha i wish =.=

anyway, it's MY turn to suffer now... you probably won't be seeing me for a month
Tracey. 14 November 2007, 12:32 am

If only you had posted these before my school certificate exams, I might have had a hope of doing well!
Alex. 14 November 2007, 3:00 am

I'll definitely be using these tips when studying for my science test two weeks from now. I'm really bad at science, so I'm hoping that the next test grade raises my overall grade. *crosses fingers* You should make a post about what to do during the test because every time I'm taking a test, I start getting panicky and I hypothesize that that's what's causing the low grades I'm getting on my tests.
Lene. 14 November 2007, 7:03 am

Haha, I love your list, specially the getting fat tip. I'm sure that would help in so many ways. Legitimate tip! Are those really your grades? Because if they are, you are doing really god, congrats! The curve for giving out the grades looks a little weird though, here a 68% is a C-.

I must print this list out and remind myself to follow it, since I can't seem to prioritize correctly :-/ See? I'm reading your blog while I'm supposed to be studying for a test on Saturday and lots of work for this week, etc.
Hev. 14 November 2007, 8:11 am

Well, you are going to hate this. I never studied once. I accepted that I was going to get B's that I wasn't going to do any better no matter what I did. I had what is usually called test anxiety & so when I studied I got worse grades then when I didn't study. So I just made sure that I re-read my notes on the day that I took them.
Kaylee. 14 November 2007, 11:15 am

My main motivation is deadlines (and the whooshing sound they make as they pass by). I seriously cannot focus until it's the night before

If 97.9 really is your math mark, that's just freaky - that's EXACTLY mine
Rilla. 14 November 2007, 11:58 am

Alex, stop reading my mind. What to do during is the next planned post.

Lene, back in high school, the 60s was C as well. But our uni obviously does it differently. I prefer B- to C- though.

Those are real grades. So Kaylee, great minds perform alike.
Sara. 14 November 2007, 12:39 pm

Wow, I'll definitely keep these tips in mind next time I have to study for my History tests... Normally I feel motivated when I think about how proud I'll be if I get a good grade. That and my boyfriend's support keep me going. I find it really important to be with supportive people - my mom keeps nagging me and doesn't really understand the concept of positive reinforcement.
I also eat a lot of breakfast cereals and chocolates/cakes, take short breaks (I watch TV or read) and I reward myself with some browsing after I finish a chapter. Sometimes I note down some of the things I want to do in my site and I keep them in mind so that I feel motivated to keep studying. How weird - I reward myself with more work once I finish working.
Nellie. 14 November 2007, 2:02 pm

As an actual fat person, I'd advise against eating junk food whilst studying.

If you eat sweet stuff, you'll get a sugar rush which will eventually fade making you feel lethargic as... something that's really lethargic and if you eat fatty stuff, it'll weigh you down and make you feel... you guessed it, lethargic!

That being said, I've never studied before in my life, so crappy food may have different effects on a studious brain.
Jamie. 14 November 2007, 4:36 pm

All I do is go to the library and force myself to do the task. I make sure my internet connection is disabled and there are no other distractions. Then I just do it. I spent 7+ hours at the library on Saturday preparing for an exam that isn't until the 2nd week of December using that method and it works for me.
Louise. 14 November 2007, 4:58 pm

I would strongly advise against getting fat. Not only, as Nellie said, does it give you rushes of short-term energy, leaving you tired - It also can lead to mental unhealthiness. Having a healthy body helps you have a healthy mind. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and go out for walks/exercise. Or play a sport, if you can spare a few hours every week.

Exams may seem like the most important thing in the world, but you need to make allowances to look after yourself and have a bit of fun too!
Rilla. 14 November 2007, 8:42 pm

I don't mean getting fat literally. Just means eating enough food and not suffer hunger. And for me it means smuggling biscuits/chips/lollies home. I didn't actually gain any weight during exams though.
Chien Yee. 14 November 2007, 11:10 pm

Motivate? Impossible. My mom's the one who motivates me with her nagging, but then she stops after a while because I would do it. Unfortunately productivity rate drops when I'm not in the mood =(

"Get fat" is also a motivation for me ;D Plus I keep my music to those without any lyrics, like Chopin's Nocturne, etc. It soothes me (esp when I study!)
Kendra. 15 November 2007, 8:09 am

Those are great goals. I make goals such as those to motivate myself as well. They usually work. Good luck with school!
Tharticus. 16 November 2007, 12:57 pm

Great goals there. Though my exams start in December, i already studying for my exam. You probably this idea from HM called Study Habits but im okay with it.

My habit of studying a very hard exam: Shut down all electronics because they cause major distraction. Eat food to concentrate studying because your stomach may growl and you might waste 30 minutes of cooking something. Final: Be sure to study in a quiet room where there is no distractions.