5 Steps to Nailing Your Midterms This Semester

It is now October and midterms are coming up more quickly than we expected. With midterm season in full swing, it is very important to stay focused on school work. For freshmen, taking college midterms is a new concept that can be intimidating at first. Once you know how to study, you will be successful in all of your classes. I’ll be sharing five personal tips for nailing midterms this semester.

plan ahead

Do not try and cram for your midterm the night before the test. During the first week of school, your professor will tell you when your midterm and final is for that class. I recommend writing those dates in a planner. This way, you will not forget when your tests are and you can be well prepared. It is also better to start studying further in advance because you can retain the information more successfully.

get enough sleep

It is very difficult to get the recommended amount of sleep every night as college students. Getting enough sleep is crucial for success, especially for midterms. Being able to have a good night’s rest the night before a big exam will help you concentrate more. It is also more likely that you will get a better score. Using a sleep mask can help with getting a full eight hours of sleep. Try not to pull any all-nighters because it will mess up your sleep schedule and your sanity.

limit the distractions

It is so easy to get distracted while studying, especially if you do not want to study in the first place. You will get so much more accomplished if you limit the distractions. This can mean putting away your phone or turning off the TV. Every time that you check your phone to scroll through Twitter, you are losing study time. Your brain is not retaining the information because it is worried about what is going on in your phone.

PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert

find a good study spot

Do not even attempt to study from the comfort of your own bed. You will end up laying there and taking naps instead of studying for your exams. Going to the library to study will make you concentrate so much better in comparison to your bedroom. You are surrounded by a ton of people doing work, and you will feel obligated to do the same. Other places that are great for studying are Starbucks, study rooms in apartments, or off-campus coffee shops.

stay positive

It is easy to let yourself get stressed out and nervous about midterms. Practice some easy anti-stress techniques like doing yoga or listening to relaxing music. You can also wear cute, comfy clothes. Staying positive will create a better midterm experience for you overall. By telling yourself that you will nail midterms, it really will happen and you will find yourself with great grades and a great semester!

What are your favorite study tips? Let me know in the comments below!

Featured photo by Julia Michaels.

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