Midterm Success!
Buff up your study skills to ACE your
midterms.
Russell Conwell Center
Office of the Senior Vice Provost
for Undergraduate Studies
Goals
• By the end of this Workshop, you should be able
to:
– Understand key elements of exam preparation
– Create and use note cards to enhance your study
skills
– Enact an 8-day study plan
What problems are you currently
having with preparing for exams?
• Take a moment to complete:
“Exam Prep: A Self Check”
• The answer to all of these items should be 
YES
• Review your answers and LIST areas that need
improvement.
– Use these items to guide your test prep
Next Step: Know the
Key Elements of Exam Prep
1. Know what the exam will cover
– Check your syllabus (this should outline what you
covered)
– Talk to your classmates
– Go to office hours for your instructor
Key Elements of Exam Prep
2. Know what type of exam will be given
– Match the method of study to the kind of exam you
will be given
• (hint: you wouldn’t use note cards to study for an essay
exam)
– For test-taking tips based on test type
(multiple-choice, essay, short answer, etc) go
to: TestTakingTips.com
Key Elements of Exam Prep
3. Avoid
procrastination
– If you wait until the
last-minute to study,
you’ll remember less
and stress more
– Use your TU Calendar
to effectively manage
your time; utilize free
time to prepare for
exams in advance.
Example: TU Calendar
• You can set aside times to study as well as
keep track of appointments and events
Key Elements of Exam Prep
4. Use memory
techniques
– There are many tricks
you can use to
remember important
concepts for exams
– Check out
AcademicTips.org for
more information!
Key Elements of Exam Prep
5. Make sure you’ve taken adequate notes and
read the text
– Get any notes that you’ve missed
– For some great tips go to NoteTakingHelp.com
Key elements of exam preparation
6. Have the proper attitude
–
Motivation is key!
Key elements of exam preparation
7. Monitor your anxiety level
– A little anxiety is good, but a lot will hurt your
performance
– For advice in overcoming test anxiety go to
StudyGS.net
Key elements of exam preparation
8. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
– Ask during class, over e-mail, at tutoring and in your
study group
– Ask EARLY and OFTEN, preferably NOT the night
before the exam
Key elements of exam preparation
9. Look for (or create) practice tests and
questions
– Form a study group and have each member identify
possible test questions. Write each other practice
tests
– Ask the instructor for any old tests, if available
Key Elements of Exam Prep
10. Know what study techniques work for you
– For example…NOTE CARDS
• Note cards can be good when:
–
–
–
–
when you are a visual learner
when you will be given an objective test
You need to memorize facts or concepts
You want to quiz yourself
Creating and Using Note Cards
• Using them the right way
– frequently shuffle the cards to keep from learning
them in order
– use only one concept per card- they aren’t designed
to hold more
– use your own words- by putting concepts in your own
words, you’re actively learning while you create them
– take out the ones you know until the final reviewdon’t waste your time studying things you already
know
– For examples go to Bucks.edu
The Eight Day Study Plan
• Download the 8-day Study Plan
• Use this as a framework for creating your study
schedule.
• Set your tasks and get them on your TU
Calendar!
Summary
• Re-reading your text and notes IS NOT ENOUGH
to prepare you for an exam. You will need to
have good study strategies and a good study
plan.
• It’s also important that you know where to go
for additional help, including instructor office
hours, tutoring centers, etc.
Apply what you’ve learned
Midterms are coming
up soon!
Get your study-self in
gear!