Exams and other standardized testing are the cause of anxiety for many students. During their time at university, students may become overwhelmed by the amount of material to learn or struggle to engage with educational materials in a meaningful way that will result in good test outcomes. Fortunately for some students, they can overcome learning barriers and determine the best way to study, while others are not as lucky. By being aware of the Principles of Learning and the myths about learning, all students can begin to better promote better learning and successfully prepare for standardized tests.
Figure 1. Studying for an Exam (John Hopkins Medicine 2017).
Personally, learning to effectively engage with educational material was difficult. In my first year, I only began preparing for tests days before and typically only read course-related slide decks once. Not understanding the importance of studying habits or techniques, I was always surprised by my below-average scores. However, as I progressed throughout my time at university I recognized that my approach to learning needed to change.
First, I started studying much earlier (at least one week before the test date) and engaging in a combination of passive and active learning styles. I would begin by reading the course’s textbook(s), slide decks, and supplementary materials. During this time, I would write notes, highlighting key elements and how they related to each other. Once I had completed the readings and initial note-taking, I broke down the material into learning segments to be digested over a series of days. By doing this, I was never overwhelmed by the amount of material and would have the opportunity to review and engage with the material multiple times. When reviewing the material/study package, I would do this both privately as well as in discussion groups to talk about the material and promote learning. For material that remained unclear, I would watch videos and reach out to the course professor to continue the discussion and solidify my understanding.
By the end of my time studying, I felt confident in my material comprehension and ability to write a good exam. Fortunately, the combination of these methods has always been very successful for me and has resulted in high scores. Although this method approach to studying is much more time-consuming than my previous approach, I have become much more successful and have been able to better learn course materials.
Figure 2. Active Exam Studying and Learning (Lane, 2022).
References:
John Hopkins Medicine. (2017). 5 Tips for Preparing for your PH.D. Candidacy Exam. Retrieved from https://biomedicalodyssey.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/2017/04/5-tips-for-preparing-for-your-ph-d-candidacy-exam/
Lane, Chloe. (2022). How can Universities Create a Diverse Environment for Students? Retrieved from https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/studying-abroad-articles/how-can-universities-create-diverse-environment-students
MooMooMath and Science. (2017, February 2017). Difference Active and Passive Studying. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5vchaVghE
Principles of Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Principles_of_learning#ExerciseStenger,
Marianne. (2018). 10 Common Learning Myths That Might Be Holding You Back. Retrieved from opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/10-common-learning-myths-might-holding-back/
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