Cramming does not choose its victim. Whether you’re a high school or college student, cramming has been a student’s last resort to finish what needs to be done. But does it do any good for a student?
The answer is, it depends. Mainly depending on how you utilize your cram time and the coverage of your test.
Usually, cramming can work in a straight-up multiple-choice and those that require memorization. This can work depending on the person’s way of studying.Â
When you cram, make sure that your focus is solely on studying and not on other distractions. How can you productively study with a phone on the side while taking multiple breaks here and there?
Cramming is not ideal, but if it is your last resort, then know how to make the most of the remaining time. Know what you have to study smartly. Be conscious of how you take the information. Consider your learning method. For example, do you retain information better when read, heard, or experienced? Then, apply this to where, when, and how you will study.
Of course, recall is better when you spend more time on it for multiple days. A 30-minute study for a subject every day is better than a five-hour cramming on Sunday night.
If you’re worried about how you will get through the exam, here are some strategies that you can use so you can make the most out of your time and effort:
Unplug
Turn off your Wi-Fi. Silent your phone. Unplugging is a great way to help you maximize your time for study. You can put your phone away that is not within reach or put your laptop in airplane mode.
However, this won’t work if you use Google docs for study. But if you are a traditional learner, with a textbook, paper, and pen, you’ll be amazed by how many things you’ve finished without the notification ringing.
Study with classmates
Having your friends study with you helps you in reinforcing discussion topics that boost your ability to recall the information when needed for the test. It also helps in clarifying confusing parts of the lecture.
If you like to study alone in your cram time as it avoids unnecessary distractions, the better. Just talk to your classmates about the topics you’ve reviewed for better recall.
Teach someone else
It is a proven method that when you teach someone else, it is much easier to pick up the topic when you need it. As you go through the same information over and over, you absorb these effectively.
Put the context into your interpretation. Writing it on paper and saying it out loud also helps in reinforcing information to your brain.
Don’t spend hours re-reading
Now that you only have a limited time, re-reading is not an ideal thing to do. But what you can do is utilize the time in a much better way. Instead of re-reading, make notes of key concepts about the topic while highlighting important details.
Cramming is not a good thing to do, but if it works for you, you do you.
Browse through our other articles here at MSM Unify to learn more tips for students like you.
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