Ace that Exam: Study Guidelines for College Exams

AP classes and extracurricular activities get you in to college, but what gets you through the first exam? Preparation, that's what. This article will guide you through the steps of knowing what to expect from a class, how to take notes and how to study for an exam.

Your guidepost to your class is your syllabus. It gives you class details, such as your professor's name and office hours. Some (but not all) professors list guidelines for when exams will fall and what material they will cover. The syllabus will also give a grading scale telling you how much different assignments and exams are. Participation is often included in the grading scale, so be willing to answer or ask questions in class.

This information is a big key to a better grade. You will need to get a calendar, preferably a large one that can hold a lot of information. Then take your class syllabus and fill in any test dates you have, including finals. Do the same for any papers or assignments, including reading assignments. This gives you a schedule. It is best to be about a week ahead of the scheduled reading. That way, the week before the exam you can cover your notes and review all the material without having to learn new concepts.

The professor will expect you to have the first chapter read before classes start. Be prepared! It's much more difficult to make up study time as the semester goes on.

Taking Effective Notes

Taking notes is more than just jotting down a few words on a blank sheet of paper. Organization at the beginning of the semester will save you hours of hunting for key concepts later. On your page, draw a line about an inch past the margin line about - of the way down the paper. Then draw a line across the bottom of the page where your first line ended. The page now has three sections. Section one is the extended margin, where you will make a brief note to remind you of an important point, such a date to remember or a mention of a test question. Section two, the larger section is for detailed notes. Shorthand and abbreviations are acceptable, but remember to write in a way that is easily understood later. The section at the bottom is for key words and concepts and the date. Labeling the page at the bottom lets you find things easier or look for a lecture form a specific date.

The first exam of the semester is usually well-discussed by the professor beforehand. A week before the exam begins, re-read each chapter with your notes handy. As you read the chapter, review your notes and pay special attention to material in the book that was mentioned in the notes. Using the notation system previously discussed, you can search the notes at the bottom for key words when reviewing, find highlighted ideas, such as dates or a professor's mention of material that will be on the exam in the margin and the extended notes to the right.