How to Prepare for an Exam in 3 Days: The Most Effective Methods

Exams are the most strenuous time for most students. Usually, students are procrastinators and tend to postpone the completion of their research papers, essays, and preparation for the exam. And when they have 3 three days left and an overwhelmingly large amount of material to read and memorize, they are desperate trying to avoid failure.

If you think about cheating during the exam by using a microphone in your ear or having some hidden notes than be on the alert.  Avoid cheating at all costs, instead you can learn how to get prepared in just 3 days. Get ready with all your undone tasks and stop screaming “get me help with college papers!” Time to get to studying.

Typically, to prepare for the exam you will need from 3 to 7 days. As practice shows, this time, is sufficient, if the student has at least some idea of the subject. There are several ways to help you successfully prepare for the exam in 3 days:

Method one: to break the material for 3 days

This method is ideal for students with a good memory, which is enough to learn the material once and to keep it in you head for a long time. The system is simple: all the examination material is divided into three equal parts. Each day you devote your time and attention to a particular block of material. As a result, almost all of the material can be studied before the exam. You can split things just into three equal parts or by topic (combining related topics with each other).

Method two: 3-4-5 system

The technique is optimal for students who do not have a good memory but have good performance. The method implies that you  study and repeat all the material each day without dividing it and just repeating the same stuff every day. And each time you are supposed to get the core idea deeper and deeper.

For example, on the first day, work out all the lecture notes or a “training manual” (if available). This will give you a refresher on the basics of the subject. Conventionally, we can assume that it allows one to take the exam and get at least “satisfactory” mark.

On the second day, “get rid of” everything but what happens according to the textbook. This will help to not only repeat everything you have learned the day before, but also deepen your knowledge on the subject. Qualitatively, having done this work, the student can confidently expect at least  a decent result.

The third day is for “resurfacing” of knowledge, filling in the gaps and, if you still have the power to prepare, memorize interesting nuances on the subject. As a result,  this training allows the student to have all the chances to pass the exam.

Method three: two days to study, a third to repeat

This method is suitable for students who do not possess a phenomenal memory or a stunning capacity for work. By the way, this is the favorite method of preparation for the exam of most students. It is a combination of two above-mentioned methods.

The system is simple and clear: the material is divided into two roughly equal parts and is absorbed in the first 2 days. The third day is to repeat everything that was covered. The technique does not force you to work “till you are blue in the face”, and on the day when you are going to repeat everything it is always possible to learn some rough parts that were hard for you.

As you can see, 3 days is enough time to prepare for the exam, even if it’s your first exam week. The main thing is to organize your work, not be lazy, not worry.

All in all, do not panic, get yourself together, and try to answer questions such as: how to learn the subject and what materials you will need (The Internet, notes, textbooks); how to learn (write cribs, cramming, reading)? With the answers to these questions, the preparation for the exam will be much easier. To start, decide, what sources of information you own.

If you have a pile of books on the subject, select one. It is better if there is a tutorial or a short course of lectures that teacher provided you with. It will be ideal if you have an outline. If the subject that you are going to pass is Technical – pay attention to the formulas. Remember main components, their form, and their decryption.

If you possess neither literature nor notes, look for important and needed material on the Internet. In order to do this, you need to have at least a question, otherwise, the search will take longer, than the real preparation for the exam. If your friends have already passed the exam, try to ask them, what were the highlights and which material was asked in details. Some professors like to ask particular stuff that they are fond of most.

How to learn the subject, if there is not enough time? Even if the time is limited very much, spend it all on repeating everything and studying something you did not devote your time in the past. Do not procrastinate because any way you are going to attend the exam and need to know everything at leat in general. Force yourself to do it. No need, of course, to work without interruption. Distribute your time sensibly. Learned a certain amount and then make a pause.

It is better not to prepare for the exam with a friend or girlfriend. They will just constantly  distract you and the process will be counter-productive.

What way will be better for your preparation? This is a private matter. Someone has a better visual memory, someone – auditory. For someone is just enough to read everything. In any case, cramming – not the best option.

Try to memorize the material with the help of associations. In such a way you can remember the dates – try to link them to some personal events. There is no problem remembring the formula! Think of a word to each letter of the formula — make up some funny sentences. When you learn the definition, do not try to memorize it. Remember it for yourself in your own words. The main thing – to understand the sense, show the teacher that you own the material and understand what you mean.

There are several types of memory: visual, auditory, motor. If you have a visual memory that is more developed it will be efficient for you to read the material. If you have a better motor memory – write cribs. This is very useful, even if you do not use them, you will anyway memorize everything that you were writing there.

Relax in the evening. Forget about the exam and just relax. Do what you want. Go to visit a friend, read a book or watch a movie.

Browse exam materials before going to bed: remember the content of the question in general. The main thing is to go early to bed and have a great amount of energy in the morning to hit it big!

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