With midterms fast approaching, students’ schedules tend to get packed, filled with notes to remember to review a subject, or reminders to not procrastinate.  To avoid cramming, there are many helpful tricks and tips to use to help manage the long hours of studying.

One really helpful tip is to use Quizlet, a website and app that allows you to study a wide range of materials using online flashcards.  Even if you don’t have an account, you can search for any single subject and use study sets that other people have already made.  It is easy to use and saves people the time of making brand new flashcards.

However, making your own flashcards can be helpful when searching for a way to review material.  This way, students study as they create the cards, and then have them available to use to memorize the material.

“I make my own color coded flashcards which is really useful, and rewriting my notes helps me review material from earlier in the year,” said junior Lucy Hurt.

For fast readers, reading chapters in the textbook is a really effective way to study, but is generally time consuming.  If reading the textbook feels like too much material, studying from outlines of the reading is a possible source of the information broken down, and there are many websites with reliable and helpful outlines of different units.

As the date of the tests get closer, cramming can get really difficult and overwhelming. Watching Crash Course videos and taking quick notes is a fast and easy way to learn important information before the test.

“I watch Crash Course videos for a lot of subjects, and they are super helpful for learning important stuff for each subject,” said junior Kathryn Pizzuti.

Another simple way to study is to go over old tests and quizzes or take practice Regents tests.  This way you can see what you need to study and what you already know.  Forming study groups is also a good way to review.  Classmates can help each other review troublesome areas or forgotten units from earlier in the year, and surrounding yourself with peers can make studying less stressful.

“My friends and I study together. It’s not stressful at all, and it’s really helpful,” said junior Amanda Krantz.

Since there is a whole week dedicated to midterms, it is important to take advantage of it.  Use the time wisely and don’t procrastinate!  Take breaks in between to avoid feeling mentally exhausted on the day of the test.  While the key to doing well on midterms is to study, it is also essential to get a good night’s sleep.  Going to bed at a healthy hour and not staying up all night studying can increase attentiveness and focus as you take the exam.  At a certain hour, sleep is more important than studying.

After all this studying, on the day of the test, having a good breakfast or lunch could also help the chances of performing well on the test.  Also, instead of rushing out the door, waking up early provides ample time to get things in order, and be ready on time to leave.  These tricks and tips will help you on all your tests and reduce the stress that is bound to happen during midterm week.