Every year in December students start to run out of steam and are ready for a long break from homework and tests. With the holidays coming up, there are so many fun activities, lights, and celebrations with favorite food to enjoy as the current year winds down.
But for high school students, grades continue to play a major part in future (and current for seniors) college admissions applications. With exams just around the corner, those scores will factor heavily into the final semester grades of your core subject courses. Remember, too, your cumulative GPA will be updated as well in January.
How do you keep up the momentum of studying and maintain healthy habits? Here are some guidelines to try:
- Ask your instructor/teacher what format the exam will be given: multiple-choice, essay, a combo of both, etc.
- Stay organized. Keep all tests/quizzes/homework for each subject in separate folders so nothing is missed.
- During your study session, put your phone in another room and keep gaming consoles out of sight. (It’s not as hard as you think!)
- Studying is better managed throughout the semester. Review notecards for each topic once they are complete. “Brain-dumping” is not recommended! (Meaning, ignoring, or purposefully forgetting what you have learned.) The goal is not to resort to end-of-semester cramming, which leads to extra stress.
- Print out notes and highlight, draw arrows, etc. to emphasize important concepts and circle the information you do not understand or need further help with. This will remind you to ask your teacher, trusted classmate, or friend for help. You should also do some extra research independently.
- Study in an area that is similar to the room you will sit for your exams (classroom in school or study area at home). Your brain will adjust to “study mode” which can help with distractions.
High school is challenging to say the least. However, you have grown and adjusted to new situations. Kudos to you! Exams rarely change, so approach them with a “can-do” attitude and keep your sites on your future goals – one being a college education.
Is your child college-bound? Read: College Planning Season is Now!
