College is a time of major adjustment, both academically and personally. With responsibilities and freedom thrown at you, it takes a great deal of adaptation and learning to fully transition into a new period of your life. Academically, classes become more challenging, thus making life probably more stressful. Studying for college exams is a learning experience itself as study techniques change and the night-before drill that worked in high school may not cut it this time around. Here are some overall pointers about studying for college exams:

How to Study

College courses are formatted differently, as some may have a midterm and final, while others may have a few exams and a final. It’s important to stay on top of course content throughout the semester. This is especially more critical when there is only a midterm and final in the course. Instead of waiting until the last week to cram half the semester’s content, reviewing at the end of each week makes life a bit easier come midterm or final time because you have reviewed and maybe mastered very early material.

The professor is one of the best resources to clear questions. Office hours are there for a reason, though they may remain barren most of the time. This provides a chance for one on one time to eliminate confusion and increase confidence.

Studying in a group also works to thoroughly review course material. With a group, you can quiz someone else, create a study guide, bounce questions off each other, etc. Being around others may also lessen stress for some students.

Textbooks are another core component for explaining course content, thus making them very important to refer to. The best way to utilize the textbook is to take the time and read the chapters covered on an exam as a study tool. At the very least, skimming relevant chapters as a review of core ideas and vocabulary can go a long way in understanding course material.

For ideas not covered in the textbook, your hand-written notes are an effective study tool. They are tailored to help you study, and more detail is better. PowerPoint slides used by the professor are also great study materials, but only if you are interactive with them. This means writing extra notes on them as a reference for the future because memorizing slides is not as effective. An alternative to learn content from PowerPoint slides is to create Flash Cards. These will test your knowledge and recall ability more effectively.

When to Study

Studying a night or two before a major exam or midterm is not ideal. In fact, it may be hard to master much of the content with such little time. For bigger exams, starting the study process a week in advance gives you ample time to study in diverse ways, such as reading the text, working in a group, etc.

All-nighters are a testament to your drive and motivation without a doubt, but don’t risk your rest. Cramming material overnight may be affected if you are tired, and being drowsy during the exam hinders your ability to effectively give your all. When you feel confident enough about the content, trust your instinct and don’t overstudy. If you study a week in advance, it is quite possible to get a good night’s sleep before an exam.

Where to Study

This varies for everyone, but if the place is distraction free, you are making big strides in mastering content. Sometimes, plugging in your headphones and getting to work in a quiet location is as effective as studying in your room. It depends on where you feel most comfortable.

College content may be difficult to grasp at times, but effectively mastering certain techniques of studying can make your life easier. There is no perfect way to study for big midterms or finals, but finding a system that works for you is the most fulfilling. It may be rocky at first, but adapting to the style of college exams comes naturally once you have a few under your belt. College will have its trial and errors, but once you conquer major exams with flying colors, you will realize how far you have come.