7 Tips: How to Study Fast for Exams in One Day

Midterms and finals are among the most stressful time periods for a student. And most likely, your days will be spent with tutors, group projects, papers, and *shudder* epic final exams that you haven’t had much time to prepare for. The good news: If you are stressed on time, it is possible to prepare for a test in 24 hours. Yes, you read that correctly. One day. But you have to be strategic! These action points are designed to help you prepare for an exam in 24 hours or less:

1. Gather all course materials.

Never begin a study session without your course syllabus, notes, and supplementary material. Before you begin, make sure to organize your things in a neat, searchable fashion. This will save you valuable time!

2. Find your quiet spot.

If you are pressed for time, avoid friends, social media, smart phone usage, and TV — these will only distract you. Additionally, don’t study in crowded cafes, parks, or public places. If you want to get some serious work done, you’ll have to seclude yourself in a place where you won’t be interrupted.

3. List the important things.

Vocabulary words, dates, names, and ideas – these all form the most fundamental knowledge that is central to your exam. Start with the syllabus and jot down key information, and then move on to your course notes. Once you have finished, you will have the ultimate “cheat sheet” to help you review.

4. Study summaries.

Your textbook should have comprehensive introductions and conclusions that condense the chapter content into a robust summary. You should study these – and hard. You’ll pick up vital information that will be on your exam.

5. Create associations.

How do the weeks on your syllabus connect to one another? If you can take some time, even ten minutes, to create a sticky note, mind map, or your best drawing, and connect the dots between the foundational concepts to your current study material, then your studying will become more effective.

6. Teach a classmate or friend.

Reciting what you have learned will amplify your memorization. When you feel comfortable with the material, try this method out by calling or meeting up with a friend or classmate and teach them what you have studied. This will encourage you to critically think about the material and strengthen what you have previously learned.

7. Review your “cheat sheet.”

Remember that list of important things? Review it. And review it some more. Again. Speak each concept and term out loud, and define your bullet points with context. Try to bridge together the information. Chart your progress and try again, but make sure to update your notes if you miss a few items.

These exercises can help you synthesize study material faster and efficiently. Not only will you enter your test more confident than before, but you will have a stronger grasp on the information. This method can also influence your future test prep. With hard work – and an adequate amount of preparation – you will be able to confidently prepare for any test or exam, no matter how large the course content may be.