Exam Notes
Right after you take the notes, organize them so they make more sense to you. Try using your computer to do this. And, each time to read through them, add things that come to mind to help your brain clarify and remember. As you get new material in class, move your older notes to the side. You will want to review new material daily for the first week and do a review of all material once or twice per week. Also, utilize computer programs to review the basics. There’s even interactive math programs, for example to help you keep up with your basic skills.
Once exam time is upon you, don’t make the mistake of many people and cram at the last minute. If you’ve followed the suggested format of constant review, you should have no new material to learn. In fact, all you will be doing is pulling together your entire exam materials. Do a quick comprehensive review of the entire course to get it fresh in your mind. Then, spend what time you have left using whatever interactive resources you have, whether it be online resources or computer programs. This will not only help you cement the concepts, but also will keep your brain relaxed for the exam. Remember that a stressed out brain has trouble recalling information.
If you have had a bit of trouble transitioning to the study format of college, there’s a lot of ways you can brush up your study skills. Remember to review your exam materials as you go along and avoid cramming. Also, take advantage of interactive ways to keep basic concepts fresh in your memory. By using these tools, you can be successful throughout your college years. Keeping the exam materials from the year before or even studying someone else's will help you out 10 fold