Twice each year, at the end of each semester, high school teachers expect their students to spill out, to the best of their ability, all the knowledge they accumulated on a final exam. Knowing how to maximize the time and energy you spend on preparing for those exams can make a substantial difference in your grade for the course.
1.) Prioritize what you need to study; don't bother making flash cards and reviewing material you're already sure about. Find out whether the exam will be comprehensive, covering the entire semester or if it will just cover what was taught since the last test. According to the study center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, it's important to narrow your focus. If the teacher provides you a list of test items, make sure you stick to studying only the items on that list. If no list is given, decide what you think the teachers will ask by going through your notes and highlighting material the teacher focused on. Ask classmates what they think will be on the test and look through tests from earlier in the semester.
2.) Organize your time. The University of New South Wales "Studying for Exams Guidelines" suggest that you make a week-long calendar, cross out times when you can't study and then reserve one-hour time slots for exams. It also suggests having materials handy for short study spurts; 10 minutes can come in handy for memorizing a formula, for example. Plan a final review the night before the exam and make a date with yourself for 7 in the evening rather than waiting until 11.
3.) Categorize your material into various study modes. For example, for material you simply need to memorize (dates and names, for example), create some color-coded flash cards fro various categories of materials. For items that need to be learned in sequence, write them out on a large piece of poster board, so you can see the whole sequence at once. Cover up various parts with adhesive notes while you memorize.
4.) Study with a partner or small group only if you feel your study partners are prepared; otherwise, you might find yourself tutoring rather than studying. Use time with peers to get their ideas on what will be included on the test and verify answers you're not sure about. Talk about concepts that may appear as essay questions.
5.) Give yourself a test. Turn facts into questions and drill yourself. Study hints from the University of Buffalo include writing sample essays. To study for essay tests, first write possible essay topics on slips of paper. Draw one and "talk" the essay. Say out loud what you would write. Later you can actually practice writing one within a time limit.
Read more: How to Study for a High School Final Exam | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7367702_study-high-school-final-exam.html#ixzz2EEKWJLjM
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