It’s that time of the year, girls — midterm season is upon us, and reading week is just around the corner. With that in mind, it’s time to strap up and get ready to conquer these exams. Despite this being my first midterm season in university, I’m convinced that following these steps will help us make the absolute most of our reading week in preparation for exams.
- Plan your schedule
Alright, first things first, we need to get organized. This means you need to allocate specific time blocks on your schedule for studying, reviewing, and having fun. Yes, I said having fun! Reading week isn’t just about hitting the books; it’s also the perfect opportunity to recharge your social battery. Having a solid plan in place will keep us on track and ensure we use our time wisely.
- Set Goals
Goal-setting, in my opinion, is the best way to motivate yourself to study. The satisfaction of reaching a goal is out of this world! Grab a piece of paper (or open up your Goodnotes journal for my fellow iPad enthusiasts) and jot down your goals for each of your courses. Make sure they’re SMART: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely. This will ensure that you will follow through with them because all the details will be laid out for you.
- ACTIVE STUDY ACTIVE STUDY ACTIVE STUDY
I cannot stress this enough: engage in active study! Do NOT prioritize passive study like re-reading notes and slides but instead dive into practice exams or review flashcards. This hands-on approach will help us gauge exactly where our understanding lies and what areas need some extra reviewing, which will in turn save us A LOT of time.
- Rest and Recharge
Last but certainly not least, rest. It’s insanely more productive to tackle exams when you’re well-rested and ready to roll, rather than running on fumes. So, recharge your batteries in whatever way feels right for you. Personally, I’m planning on catching up with friends and finally finishing that book I’ve been dying to complete.
I hope you’re as excited as I am to put these tips into action during your reading week prep this semester. We’ve got this! Let’s make the most of our reading week and ace those midterms! Good luck!