One of the toughest things about school is of course exams. They are stressful, they are long and they are difficult.
This is how I studied as an undergrad:
I usually stress about it a lot and so I put it off. As I get closer to the date, I procrastinate, clean, go on social media until there is no more time. Then I cram and then I fail.
Here is how I study as a graduate student:
In essence, I study the way I would prepare for a big race or a big competition. At the end of studies, I make a study schedule. I break up the material into even chunks with a day for a practice test and some rest. I set a day for each portion of the class and I find that it is easiest to review material at night before I sleep and then complete practice problems in the morning when the brain is fresh (and also probably the time you will take the exam).
When you complete problems, either have a solution set or ask others what they got. Then go over the wrong ones and try to solve them again.
Two or three days before the test, solve a practice exam. Again go over the problems you got wrong. Try to relax the night before, maybe just go over the material lightly one more time.
Day of the exam, trust your studies.
So the key to studying well is not smarts, but managing your stress and anxiety. The way to manage it is not to think of all the stuff you have to study or how you don’t understand the material but to make a plan.
Of course, this is easier in Graduate school or at schools where you have fewer courses and they are spread out. In my undergrad, we often had a week for all of the finals and usually three or four of them. This means you often have to begin a week before the final material is done. But the key is still to plan out your studies hour by the hour instead of day by day and then work the plan.
Resources
Some other resources include some reading, but it’s ok, you’re in college to read and learn, so you won’t mind:
The Anxiety Toolkit: a great book on dealing with all sorts of anxiety by Alice Boyes.
Getting Things Done by David Allan on how to set a plan and work it.
Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg: how to identify a bad habit, break it and create a new one.
You have 40-60 years after college, make it anxiety-free and successful.
seven year degree 