esWith the Advanced Placement (A.P.) and International Baccalaureate (I.B.) tests approaching ever closer, stress is mounting for teachers and students alike. Students are cramming, teachers are rushing to make any new review material and ensure the students are ready, and nothing about it is quite pleasant.
Sophomore Alivia Keim said, “The most stressful part is probably the fact that we have really limited time for the test but I’m also nervous about the short answer questions because they make you thoroughly explain the topic.”
Luckily, there are dozens of studies and research showing various highly effective methods of studying to offer some grace to students.
Some of the most commonly agreed-upon things in the educational field are that reading is not studying. While you ingest the information, you do not engage with it, which results in poor memory and recollection. Reading is always important, of course, but never the best choice.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has produced a paper, dubbed the Study Cycle. In this, they detail five important steps in long-term study practice. While this cycle was intended for whole-year use rather than the last month before exams, it can be, to an extent, condensed into a somewhat effective practice for the short-term.
The first step is to preview material before lectures, so you already have a vague, outlined concept of what will happen in class. This allows you to better piece together information and their relations to each other, as well as having an underlying understanding of the material before; so now, you have a great understanding of the material as the teacher actually speaks.
The second step is to attend class, both physically and mentally. Engage with the work rather than sit idly by, zoned out, staring at the window as geese attempt to mate with their reflections.
At this point in the year, most classes have shifted their focus from learning to reviewing. Senior and Full IB student Desmond Ducy stated, “Every one of my classes is now completely devoted to studying now so we are all prepared for the test.”
Step three is review, much similar to preview. When you have free time– the closer to the initial lesson, the better– go through your notes. As aforementioned, simply reading it does little. But if you explain it to yourself, find and know the keywords, and think about how it all pieces together, you will take in the information at a more significant rate.
Keim noted, “We are reviewing the course in class and I made some flashcards for key phrases, cases, and documents.”
Step four is study; the grand goal itself. As this guide was intended for a full year, the study it describes is clearly meant for a longer period than students currently have available. However, the same principles apply: have several study sessions a week. These sessions do not need to be long in any manner, as that may be overexerting.
If you overexert yourself, you risk nothing coming through, which is substantially worse than only a few things coming through. It is important that you distribute the sessions, as the method of distributed practice is significantly more effective than massed practice, where you cram a significant amount of information in a short period of time.
Sophomore Audrey Rode said, “I’m preparing for the AP tests by reviewing old material, and practicing timed writings so im well prepared
Perhaps the most important step, in the long term, is to check. Ensure what you’re doing is actually working. While the aforementioned list works for many, one shouldn’t feel pressured to abide by it or any other method if they know it isn’t working. Studying can only do so much good if the method you use isn’t working, and with the exams so close, there isn’t any time to waste. If you suspect or know something isn’t working, try something else until it connects. Then, stick with that method.
Other things that may benefit your studying include writing a study guide, finding a good-fitting environment (do you work better with background noise or silence, what location feels the most comfortable, etc.), putting the problems into practice (such as equations), preventing yourself from multitasking, saying things aloud, have a calendar plan and a routine order, use as many resources as possible and beware of downtime that could be better spent.
Some AP and IB-specific strategies and resources include, but are not limited to, using official AP/IB media, such as review books from Barron’s or Princeton, watching AP Daily videos, past papers for either, and taking practice tests. The more your review is linked to the official test, the better, as it gives you a much better idea of what they may be looking for, the structure of the questions, and if there are any patterns made to confuse the students.
Rodes concluded with “I feel good about AP testing. I have a feel for what’s to come and what’s on the test and so far my essays have been pretty good.”
All this being said, ensure you don’t overstress yourself or deprive yourself of sleep. All the studying in the world will amount to little if your brain is too overworked and under-rested to behave within its full cognitive potential. In the end, a smaller amount of studying with a functional brain may work better than extensive studying with a poorly functioning brain.
