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How to Cram for a Test

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cramming!

Whoops! It's the night before the big exam, and you haven't done a lick of studying all semester.
Looking back on it, you know that you should have been hitting the books all those nights you
were watching t.v., but there's nothing you can do about it now. Don't throw in the towel yet,
though--it's time to get cramming.

While cramming probably won't get you an "A," it can definitely save you from an "F." So suck
it up and get ready for a long, hard night. And vow to be a better student from now on.

edit Steps
1. 1

Find out what you really need to study. If your teacher holds a review session before the exam,
take advantage of the opportunity. You'll find out what topics the teacher thinks are important,
and you'll have an opportunity to ask questions (although if you're having to cram, you probably
have a few too many questions at this point). Many teachers hand out study guides; be sure to
use them. While they probably won't cover everything that will be on the test, you'll at least be
able to focus on the key topics.
 Don't forget to take good notes in class so that you can refer to them later!

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2. 2

Get out your lecture notes. Assuming you attended class regularly, you should have some notes
to look over. If you don't have any notes, try to get copies from a classmate. Your class notes are
a treasure trove of important knowledge, because your teacher covers what he or she thinks is
most important.

3. 3

Note your notes' notable notions. As you go through your notes, find important definitions,
concepts and equations. If you don't know them by heart, write them down on a separate piece
of paper--your cramming notes-- or, better yet, on 3X5 note cards. This will help you identify
what you need to know, and you'll have a handy set of flash cards. The process of rewriting may
also help you memorize the content.

4. 4

Go through your study guide and your cramming notes and look up the important topics in
your textbook. Scan the key sections of your text and write down any new information you find
that seems important. The idea here is not to write down everything, but rather to identify the
specific ideas, facts or equations that are likely to be on the test and focus on those topics as
much as possible.

5. 5

Look at the beginnings and ends of textbook chapters. The first page of a chapter often
identifies key points that will aid your understanding of the material. The last couple pages will
often summarize the chapter, define or highlight key terms, and--in the case of math texts--list
important equations. Again, write any new important material down on flashcards or your list of
cramming notes.

6. 6
 Review your flashcards or cramming notes. Go through the key topics quickly. If you feel you
understand and can remember a certain topic or equation cross it off the list or set its flashcard
aside. If you come up with additional questions, look them up in your notes and text.

7. 7

Test yourself. If your teacher handed out a practice test, do it now. If not, do the practice tests
or review questions at the ends of your textbook chapters. Only do the questions that are
directly relevant to the concepts you've identified as important. Don't spend a lot of time on
each question. If you get stuck on a question, note it and come back to it after you grade your
test.

8. 8

Grade your self-tests. Be honest with your grading--if you don't fully understand something,
don't pretend you do. Look at the questions you got wrong and compare those to your
cramming notes or flashcards. You may need to make some new flashcards, and you may need
to revisit some of those you thought you knew.

9. 9

Repeat step 6. You'll want to review your cramming notes or flashcards as much as possible
between now and test time. Each time you do so you should be able to set aside more
flashcards or cross out more topics on your list.

10. 10

Contemplate possible essay questions (if applicable) and how you would answer them. By
now you should have at least a light grasp on the material. Think about the overarching
concepts involved and outline (preferably on paper) your approach to essay questions.

11. 11

Repeat step 6. Again, you'll want to review those important topics again and again until you
remember them all.

12. 12

Get some sleep. Sometimes, you just don't have enough time for sleep, but do try to get as
much sleep as possible before your test. It's a good idea to get the bulk of your cramming in
before going to bed and then get up with enough time to review a bit more.

13. 13
 Review all your cramming notes or flashcards one more time. Right before the test, go through
every one of your flashcards or notes--even if you think you have memorized them. You want
everything to be fresh in your mind when you take the test. If you are having some trouble
remembering a certain definition or equation, write it down six or seven times in a row. That
should firmly imprint it on your brain.

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edit Tips
 If you're having trouble staying alert while you're cramming, and you have no time for sleep,
drink some coffee. If you're tired right before your test, drink some more. Caffeine aids mental
alertness. Tea has also been proven to aid concentration. (Just remember, you can have too
much Caffeine and you may find that you have a crash after it has given you the initial boost)

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 It has recently been proven that the smell of cinnamon (i.e. cinnamon gum) helps you
concentrate, so pack some Big Red
  You may find it easier to review with a study partner. You can quiz each other and answer each
other's questions as you go along. Some people find this a distraction, so see what works best
for you.
 Eat nutritious food. It's harder to concentrate if you're loaded up on junk. Even though sugar is a
fast source of energy, sugar lows happen shortly after the highs and they are hard to come off
of. Bananas in particular are a great source of slow release sugar and energy.
 Eliminate as many potential distractions as possible. If you can study without a computer, then
make sure to work away from one. If your assignment is on the computer, disable the internet
temporarily before you start. If you're working on the internet, (researching, etc.) then you need
to exercise self-control.
 Right before the test, try to get some exercise. Run up some stairs or do some jumping-jacks.
Exercise gets blood flowing and relaxes you. It also increases your alertness.
 Take frequent, short breaks. Breaks help you stay alert, and they can also prevent burnout.
 Drinking plenty of water helps you to think and most importantly it hydrates you. Remember:
caffeine is a diuretic. So if you have been downing the coffee in order to cram for your test you
need to re-hydrate yourself.
 Finally, read aloud, you may sound stupid but believe it or not this is a better way to learn in a
hurry than reading off a page and staring into nothingness.
 Put on a strong smelling lotion while cramming. Put the same lotion on before the test. The
smell will bring memories of studying. This technique also works with a strong candle.

edit Warnings
 Sleep deprivation and excessive caffeine intake are very unhealthy. Don't do this too often!
Sleep deprivation can also slow your reaction time, so think twice about driving to or from class
after an all-night cramming session.
 Even if you do well on a test, don't expect to remember the material a couple days later. People
generally learn better if they do it gradually. Cramming is really just a short-term memorization
aid. If you will need to know the material later--math equations are a prime example--you'll
probably need to re-review it after the test.
 If you study with a partner or with a group, beware of losing focus on the task at hand. Study
groups often turn into gossip fests. You may be better off studying on your own.
 Realize that cramming is not the best option, and try to avoid it at all costs. Only cram in
emergencies, and try to avoid it. Vow to not cram.
 Avoid the temptation to cheat. A fifty percent that you earned is better than someone else's A.
Even if you don't feel guilty afterward, you still are taking a huge risk. Teachers don't appreciate
cheating and if they catch you, the effects may carry far beyond a zero on the test. They'll begin
to grade your assignments harder and if you need a teacher recommendation, they'll probably
refuse to give it to you or mention the incident as a comment.

edit Things You'll Need