Are you stressing about an upcoming quiz or exam and have not prepared at all? Here are some tips on how to study last minute and still get that A.
I usually don’t recommend cramming everything right before a test, but I understand, things happen.
These are strategies that I use (when I need to cram) and have worked. This article WILL be long so if you need to jump to a specific section, feel free to do so.
I am going to include every. single. strategy. so if you plan on studying/cramming in the near future, this will be very helpful for you to use.
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
How to Study Last Minute and Still Ace Your Test
First, gather everything that you can about your upcoming test. Get information about:
- what topics will be covered
- what homework or assignments will help
- what notes you have on the topic/subject
- who you can ask for further clarification
- any papers/documents/books that you have about the topic
Then, settle down and skim through your notes quickly.
How to study one hour before the test?
If you have notes, review them. No notes? Don’t worry and go online to check Quizlets about your topic.
There will be hundreds and thousands of study sets that you can browse through and study.
If you can’t access any electronics or phone, go over notes or materials with your friends and classmates.
Ask each other questions and go over the answers to them.
Before tests, I like to chat with my friends about possible questions that might appear. And luckily, during the test, there will always be one or a few of those problems that pop up.
Then, I just recall what we chatted about, and usually, the answers are within our conversations.
I found that this works especially well for multiple-choice tests or classes like psychology, history, or language.
Go on Quizlet
I highly vouch for Quizlet and use it frequently to study for exams.
If you don’t have time to make flashcards, you can open up Quizlet and search for your subject.
Make sure you are using study sets that have the correct answers to the questions and correct terms/concepts.
The last thing you want is to be cramming incorrect material in your mind.
Browse through several sets and try to grab the main ideas for each question.
Remember special vocab or terms that relate to a question and try to associate them.
Chat with Your Friends/Classmates
As previously mentioned, go have conversations with your friends and classmates.
Don’t be talking to that friend or classmate who does not know that there is homework due or that there is a test today.
Go chat with your study buds about what upcoming questions might be on the exam and what they have been studying.
Try to branch into the conversations and go beyond just question and answer.
Chances are the deeper your conversation goes about the topic, the more likely that you are reaching the gold mine. The gold mine-as in the questions-that will likely appear on the tests and exams.
Then during the exam, you can try and recall what was discussed and use related information to assist you with the test.
This is like a quick refresher before you hop into an exam and it also provides you with a quick boost of knowledge.
Do a Quick Review
An hour before your exam, you should be targeting the most pressing concepts and main ideas for the test.
Skim your notes and try to remember the main points. There are different studying strategies for different types of tests, so here are some tips on how to approach each type of test.
If you are studying for a math test:
- go over the formulas (if it isn’t provided)
- connect the formulas to their corresponding problems
- skim over the steps on how to solve the problems
- go over any special rules or exceptions
- look for more than one way to solve a problem (if you have time)
It might be difficult to go over each step in the limited amount of time that you have so stay laser-focused on the main points.
Go over any important formulas or equations that you know will appear on the exam.
If you are studying for a psychology test:
- skim over the terms and concepts
- go over any stories about a certain psychologist or contributing author
- review examples
- connect vocab to their corresponding ideas
- review any effects of an experiment on the brain, on the body, on a person or animal
Try to approach psychology exams with connecting cues. Usually, you are tested on a prominent figure or experiment, so try to grasp the main contributions and the effects of an experiment.
Were there any special findings? Who was involved?
If you are studying for a history test:
- look over the important dates of major events
- skim over any key figures involved in the events
- review what significant figures contributed to an event
- connect any cause and effect of events
- study any laws or policies that were created because of an event or person
For history exams, try to target the main who, what, when, where, and why.
Who were the people involved? What happened? When did this occur? Where did an event happen? Why did this event happen and were there any effects?
If you are studying for an English test (essays):
- skim over how to dissect a prompt
- look up nice transitions words that you can sprinkle into your writing
- skim over the type of essay(s) that you will be required to write
- format your body first and worry about your intro and conclusions last
- review how to do analysis, rebuttals, or citing in your paper
Focus on crafting your essay and consistently sticking to the prompt. Have a handful of transition words available to use to help your writing flow.
Remember to practice citing and drafting analysis for your essays.
If you are studying for a coding test:
- check any special rules, cases, or exceptions
- double-check your work
- skim over any coding exercises, practice problems, and problem sets
- check for any patterns between problems
- take note of any vocab and terms
Skim over any special rules or main points that your teacher or professor addressed in class.
Try to save some time to double-check your work at the end of your exam.
If you are studying for a language test:
- go over the terms and vocab
- try to understand paragraphs/text by using contextual clues
- practice elimination on multiple-choice questions
- try to find patterns or trends within questions
- check previous questions to see if they are related to the next questions and find hints
Focus on grasping the gist of what a section means and use contextual clues to help guide you.
Skim through any vocab or terms that you are having trouble with and practice them several times.
If you are studying for a science test:
- skim over any formulas, equations, or rules that you need to use
- check for any sheets that you may need (periodic table, physics equation sheet)
- go over any available practice problems
- review any examples
- build connections between findings, research, or ideas
Since there are several different science classes (biology, chemistry, physics), you want to focus on the main rules or equations that you need to go over.
Examples are super helpful if there are any and you can also chat with your buddies about anything that you are unclear on.
Is last-minute studying effective?
So, you read through everything and start to have some doubts. Is last-minute studying really effective?
The short answer is; yes.
Any sort of review before a test or exam will help jog your memory about the concepts and main ideas. The issue with last-minute studying is it allows you to regurgitate the information quickly, but at the cost of your learning.
If you have ever done pretty well on a test, but then forgotten everything afterward, then you have experienced the pros and cons of last-minute studying.
In order to maximize the benefits of last-minute studying, you should have a prior review and proper studying topics before diving in.
If you feel more stressed as you cram, take a deep breath and put your notes down. Instead of staring at your study materials, look out a window or clear your mind.
The calmer you are, the less nervous and doubtful you will be when you start your test.
Want more study tips to actually learn the material? Check out 11 Genius Study Tips for Exams.
Tips to Study the Day Before
Usually, I have a lighter day before an exam, but you have to be about 90% sure about the material to do this.
If you have about a 50% or even lower grasp of the material, I recommend that you follow the tips below.
Lightly Review the Material
This is the time you want to just skim your notes and any notecards that you have.
Go over any points that you are confused about and try to find the answers and process to do it through friends or online resources.
You might not have time to create a full-fledged plan, but you can still create a task list.
On the list, jot down 3-5 main topics that you want to tackle and either:
- watch videos
- ask classmates/friends
- check online resources
- go over your notes
- check at examples in your textbook
The best way to understand something is through examples and the best way to remember the material is to demonstrate the example.
For instance, if you need to learn how to do differential equations, go check out a tutorial and some practice examples.
Then, try to follow through with the steps and practice doing it on your own. If you want to take it one step further, try to explain the steps that occurred in your own words and try some exercises on your own.
TOP TIP: If your test covers multiple topics, but focuses slightly heavier on some concepts, try to study those areas more. Instead of dividing your time on every topic and having a 60% understanding of the material, it is better to be laser-focused on 2-3 main topics and be 80% confident about the material.
This way you won’t be unsure of most of the problems, but instead knowledgeable about the main topics that you are tested on.
Make a Study Card
Sometimes teachers allow you to create a cheat sheet for a test or exam. It’s when you can fill an entire notecard or piece of paper with anything you need to help you on a test.
Do this for all of your classes even if a cheat sheet is not allowed (which should be normal for your classes).
The process of making a cheat sheet allows you to remember the material already since you are spending so much time interacting with it.
This is also the purpose that teachers or professors who allow cheat sheets. They want you to go over the material and spend time studying it.
You may think “oh wow, we get to have a study card/cheat sheet in this class, I feel so much better for the exam!”
And chances are, you will probably do better because of the time you spent reviewing and the minimized stress since you have a study item with you during the test.
So, even if you can’t have a study card for the exam, make one! Use it for practice before the test as a review and you will feel much more prepared going in.
Do Some Exercises
You might be thinking what in the world??
But exercising or just walking around your room can help alleviate your brain juices. It will help you think better and look at questions from a different perspective.
If you are ever stuck on a coding or math problem, get up and walk around before checking the problem out again.
Your brain will be clearer and you will be able to approach the problem differently.
If you don’t do any exercises currently, I recommend that you start incorporating some light workouts into your daily routine.
You can try to work out three times a week for at least half an hour and increase the amount gradually.
Eat a Healthy Snack
Go grab some fruits, nuts, or yogurt and snack on them as you study.
You want to keep yourself energized and filled as you review your notes and study. If your fruit is hand-held like apples or bananas, you can cut and slice them up first.
I like to create a mini fruit plate when I study and have something to chew on.
Try to avoid snacks that are high in sugar which can cause a spike in your attention levels in the beginning and crash afterward.
Aim for foods that are light on your stomach and do not trigger it.
One time, I had all-you-can-eat Korean bbq the day before an exam, and let me tell you that was just horrible.
I felt full and sluggish the next day because of the amount I ate and the incredibly salty/spicy items that I ordered.
So if you don’t regularly eat something, don’t be eating that the day before or on the day of the exam.
Opt for easily digestible foods that keep you full and energized.
Snack recommendations:
- Almonds or nuts: great for boosting memory and keeping you filled
- Dark chocolate: helps alleviate endorphins and increase focus
- Fruits: provide energy and vitamins
- Yogurt: boost your immune system and relieve stress
- Eggs: increase your energy levels and reduce anxiety
Stay Hydrated
Keep yourself hydrated and remember to bring a water bottle with you.
You want to stay hydrated, but don’t drink so much water that you constantly need to use the restroom.
Avoid drinking too much caffeine before the exam as it can make your heart race and increase stress levels.
However, if you are used to consuming caffeine and you know that it doesn’t affect you as much, you can still drink it.
Another alternative might be tea since it has less caffeine and calories than coffee.
Some types of tea to drink to stay alert and focused are green tea, peppermint tea, and black tea.
If I have an exam in the morning or afternoon, I usually opt for peppermint or green tea to keep me alert.
Usually, when I have an exam in the late afternoon or evening, I opt for a cup of white mocha a few hours before the test.
Along with these drinks, I like to carry a water bottle with me to stay hydrated.
Get Enough Sleep
This should be bolded, highlighted, and stamped into your mind.
You need to get enough sleep to be able to function properly for your exam.
Do not pull an all-nighter the day before the exam. This will overkill your brain and make you groggy when you are taking the test.
Instead, get your needed 7-9 hours of sleep, and don’t stress over studying everything.
It is better to be able to think during your exam than cramming and staying overnight and frying your brain.
If you forget when to sleep, you can set an alarm to remind you about the time.
Quiz a Friend
One of my favorite study hacks is to study with a friend.
During high school, I would always spend the night over at my friend’s house and we would study together.
You can also quiz each other on questions that may come up on the exam and go back and forth with the questions.
Take short breaks in between and switch roles every half an hour or so.
If you get easily distracted studying with a friend, you can also opt for online meetings or study with music in the background.
Sometimes study groups are super helpful since more ideas go around. You will also feel more motivated and more inclined to study if other people are holding you accountable.
If you want to make studying more interesting, you can also make a jeopardy game out of it.
Just place questions in different boxes and have answers ready for them.
Then, place easier questions with lower points and match harder questions with higher points.
Use the Study Guide
If your teacher or professor provides you with a study guide for the exam-USE IT AT ALL COSTS!
Find the answers to the questions, come up with more questions from the questions, and study the topics related to the study guide.
This will help save you so much time and research on the questions that will appear on the exam.
You can work on a study guide with your friends, but I also recommend that you go over it once.
Try not to split up the work between too many people as it can confusing. Someone might answer a question a certain way and another person might approach it a different way.
Go over the study guide with your own answers once and then split up the work.
You will have the most retention and recall on the questions and answers if you spend the time working on them.
The more time you spend engaging with the material, the more prepared you will be for the exam.
Study in the Library
If you have a hard time studying or focusing, go take a trip to the library.
Once you see other students frantically studying, it will motivate and push you to do the same.
The environment that you are in will influence you to act in a specific way. When I lack motivation, I like to go to my college library or local library to work on tasks since I am put in an environment where everyone else is working.
You might find it easier to study at a work spot rather than on your bed or random area. This is because your brain can associate which areas are for working and which areas are for resting.
Once you notice yourself dozing off or your brain drifting away, get up and find a different place to sit.
The constant change of scenery and walking will prompt you to stay alert and adjust to the new environment.
How to save time and cram more effectively/easier?
Ok, if you want to develop a system where you can study the night before or the hour before your exam, here are my top tips to make this process a whole lot doable.
Go to class and pay attention. Take notes and write summaries about the topic. After each class, debrief yourself on the topic and make sure you understand what was taught.
If not, go to office hours, go ask your classmates or friends who know, and ask your teachers/professors.
Don’t wait until it rolls into a large ball of confusion where you will be stuck in a bad situation during exams.
Alright, here are some of my tips.
Highlight/Annotate Your Notes
Bold the main concepts and highlight the parts that the teacher says will be on the exam.
Annotate your notes and jot down questions about any section that you are confused about.
Go through your notes often and try to have the main ideas and details addressed.
Don’t wait a long time to have your questions answered since that can deter you from remembering the parts that you were confused about.
If you do have to wait a few days, jot down a note about which area you were confused about and what you want to be answered.
Still need more study advice? Check out 9 Superb Note Organization Ideas You Need to Try.
Create a Brief Review Summary
After each class, create a brief summary of the notes you took.
It can be 2-3 sentences about:
- what was covered in class/lesson
- what topics/main ideas were mentioned
- main insights or key takeaways
You want to write your summary as soon as possible after class, so you remember what happened.
The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to jot down the main details about the class.
Try to stay consistent and do this for every class and every lesson, so you can quickly review or go over them.
If you need to cram, these summaries will be SUPER helpful since they will jog your memory, remind you about the key points, and be quick to go over.
Make Study Materials
Create flashcards, notes, and test prep material before the exam.
This way you will be able to cram and not scramble through your notes before your exam.
Try to jot down as much information about the upcoming test and make study material for it.
Then, an hour before the test, you can go through the flashcards or review the important parts of your notes.
Spend more time understanding and recognizing the meaning or main points instead of just flipping quickly through them.
Space Your Studying
If you have an exam coming up in two weeks, space out your studying.
For instance, instead of studying for 8 hours the day before the exam, study for half an hour every 2-3 days leading up to the exam.
Then on the day before the exam, you can just lightly review the material and call it a day.
By spacing out your study sessions, you are reinforcing the material in your brain and moving the information from short-term to long-term memory.
When you try to cram, the information may be temporarily stored in your brain and be useful during the exam. However, after your test, you are likely to forget most of what you crammed because the information has not transferred over to your long-term memory.
This is why it is highly recommended that you space out your studying so the material can be stored longer in your brain.
PLUS, this is what you want since you want to LEARN the material and not just pass tests.
In the end, you are more successful if you have learned the material rather than just scoring high on tests but forgetting the material right after.
Ask Questions
And I don’t just mean asking your teacher or professor about things that you are stuck on.
Ask questions to deepen your learning and understanding.
If you are studying for a history test, and one question might be a topic on a war.
Instead of just pausing at what the war was, dive deeper.
Who was involved in the war? Why did the war occur? What impacts did it have on the country? Who was impacted by the war? When did the war occur? Are there any other major events or changes that occurred because of the war? Why is this war significant? What historical impact does the war have?
Don’t just stop at a question. Generate more questions from one topic or main idea.
You will be able to connect patterns and discover trends easier this way.
And chances are, you are already digging up the questions that will appear on the exam.
Put yourself in your teacher or professor’s shoes and think about what questions they will likely ask on the test.
If you have previous quizzes or exams, you can use that as a reference point to come up with questions.
Study Materials That I Recommend
If you have gotten this far, then I will introduce some of my favorite study items to help prep for your future exams.
Hopefully, your future tests won’t be as hectic, and you are actually learning instead of trying to squeeze everything inside your brain.
Not only will you forget the material quickly, but you won’t learn as effectively.
1. Colored Pens
Having a set of quality colored pens is great for taking notes or putting emphasis on specific parts.
I recommend investing in office supplies if you have the means for it. If it motivates you to study a bit longer or be more interested during the review session, then I say go for it.
You can often get deals around summer or near the back-to-school season.
If you want to organize your classes, you can get a set with enough colors for each one.
You can also choose to take your notes in black or blue ink and highlight important parts with a specific color.
2. Index Cards
If you have a lot to study, I recommend getting a large pack of these index cards.
It is perfect for quizzing yourself on vocab terms, historical events, or conceptual ideas.
I also recommend using Quizlet for creating study sets online, but I find index cards to be the OG in studying.
Since you need to interact with the card physically, you are incorporating more cues to help you memorize the information.
Get a bulk pack at the start of the school year and it will last you for the entire year or more.
3. Dry Erase Board Calendar
I like to have something on my desk that reminds me of upcoming quizzes and exams.
This light-up calendar seems pretty cool and it is reusable, so you don’t need to get a calendar each year.
Having a calendar that you will actually look at and use is a hundred times better than getting a calendar and not using it.
You can also use it as a memo board and include notes on the very bottom.
Remember to constantly view and update your calendar, so it is up-to-date.
Interested in more studying tips? Check out 13 Genius Study Tips for Kinesthetic Learners.
Things to Avoid Before Exams
Did you know that there are some don’ts that you should avoid doing the day before or the hour before your exam?
Try to avoid these traps to have a smooth testing day.
Don’t Stress
I understand how stressful it is to be racing through your notes and trying to cram every single thing in your mind. But, hear me out.
Instead of wrecking your stress levels, take a couple of deep breaths and try to calm yourself down.
If you don’t feel totally prepared for the test and know that you will perform terribly, stay after class and talk with your teacher or professor.
Check if there are options like retaking the test or going to office hours to learn about the material.
The last thing you want is to be stressing over the test so much, that your mind becomes blank during the exam.
If you have elevated levels of stress or anxiety taking exams, you can communicate with your teachers or professors for accommodations.
Don’t Eat Different Foods
Yes, don’t be trying new foods near your exam date.
If you have been regularly consuming a certain type of food, don’t start going to eat sushi or spicy foods if you haven’t tried them before.
Some people have a low tolerance for new foods, so wait until you finish your exam before you go out and try something new.
If you don’t regularly eat extremely spicy or salty foods, don’t be testing them out anytime near your tests.
Instead, stick with your normal routine and eat what you normally eat to be on the safe side.
Don’t Skip Your Sleep
As much as you want to pull an all-nighter to get every last bit of information in your brain, don’t do it.
You will be exhausted and out of it during the exam.
It is totally better to get 7 hours of sleep and 4 hours of studying instead of 11 hours of studying and 0 sleep.
By the time you finished studying, all your energy will be zapped away from your soul.
Even if you try and replenish your alertness with caffeine, it will mess with your body and brain.
Don’t risk your cognitive thinking and alertness with crammed studying.
Don’t Forget Your Testing Supplies
If you need scantrons, pencils, or study sheets, don’t forget them.
The day before your exam, pack your backpack and make sure you have EVERYTHING you need.
Some things that you might want to pack for an exam:
- your school ID
- pens and pencils (get some no. 2 pencils for scantrons)
- eraser
- study sheet if allowed
- a snack
- water
- a jacket (if it is cold in the testing room)
You want to be as prepared as you can and not leave anything behind.
Take into consideration any situation that may arise and bring the corresponding items with you.
Don’t Be Late
Set up an alarm for your exam date and don’t oversleep.
If you have a different testing location than your regular classroom, make sure you know where it is located.
You might want to go a day or two early and find the classroom, so you know for sure where it is at.
If you show up late to an exam, you can either be restricted from participating in the exam or receive less time to take it.
Avoid being late by getting up early and knowing where to go.
Last bit of advice…
Ok, you have read or skimmed through this entire reading and you might be feeling a mix of emotions.
Here, I will provide as much reassurance and support for you to help you relax.
First of all, if you fail a test it is not the end of the world. I repeat, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.
This will just be a lesson for you to learn and bounce back.
If you don’t feel like you have studied enough or are not even 1% prepared for the exam, don’t stress yourself out.
Go into the exam with what you already know and make sure to answer all the questions.
If it is multiple choice, use elimination and cross out answers that are too outrageous or that you have not heard of.
Take deep breaths in between the test if you are confused about how to approach a problem.
If you are stuck on a problem for too long, skip it and return to it later.
Check if there are sections where it asks related questions. If you know the answer to a question, it will be helpful for other similar questions.
Instead of leaving things blank, put something on the page or show some work to see if you can get partial credit.
Incorporate these study tips and ideas to study efficiently and smartly!
