Advisory Guide
To Studying for Tests and Quizzes
Thanks and credit go to Mrs. Cindy Cargas and her students. They created this guide last year. Find what works for you!
Our Study Strategies
• make sure you have all of the materials that you need in order to study (study guide, notes, graphic organizers, maps, vocab lists,
books, etc.); organize your materials
• use the study guide (if there is one) from the teacher!
• pay attention to the format of the test or quiz (multiple choice, short answer, essay, etc.) and tailor your study strategy to it
• study a little each night instead of cramming at the last minute J
• use “backwards planning” for tests or projects
• use the teacher’s website if important resources are provided there
• avoid distractions while studying! (but possibly listen to classical music J)
• pay attention in class! J
• see the Active Learning strategies we talked about in class (attached)
• make flashcards (see attached lesson) – making them helps you learn!
• make a 2-column study guide or use the 2-column notes you already made (see attached lesson) – making it helps you learn!
• Use the RCRC method for studying using your 2-Column Study Guide:
o R – Read the information – both sides (questions and answers)
o C – Cover the information on the right by folding the paper under
o R – Recite the answers while you look only at the questions
o C – Check your answers by unfolding
• get your parents or others to quiz you using your flashcards, 2-column study guide/notes, workbook, etc. Ask a parent to help you
focus on the things you are having difficulty with. Ask a parent for help with things you don’t understand, or have a discussion about
the “big ideas”.
• keep track of the things you are having trouble with and study extra on those items
• say things aloud as you study to help you remember (especial y before you go to bed!), or write things out to help you remember
• use post-it notes to hide part of the information on a worksheet so you can quiz yourself
• if you know possible essay question topics, reread that section of the text & your notes, and then prewrite to prepare for the essay
question. You could also practice writing the essay, but realize that you may have to change it when you see the actual question.
• read the whole chapter (or all of your notes) again to refresh your memory and get the big picture
• pretend you are the teacher and are teaching the material to someone else
• make up songs to learn and remember the material
• • math – give yourself, or have a parent give you, problems that are similar to what wil be on the test or quiz, then do those
problems; practice explaining how you got the answer; remember to label your answer!
• science – study from all of your notes & fil in the “heads up” sheet the day before the test, then use the heads up sheet to study
• spelling – rewrite words
• use color to help organize the information
• highlight the most important info on worksheets and notes
• pay attention to highlighted words in your textbook
Remember, your goal is learning and understanding, not just memorizing! J
Quick List of Helpful Websites
Use either teacher created lists/flashcards, or created by you.
Study online, print out, or copy down.
• quizlet.com
• studystack.com
• spellingcity.com
January 10, 2013
Active Learning is
intentionally and
repeatedly using your
eyes, ears and muscles
to learn and practice
information.
Passive Learning is
expecting information to
sink into your brain simply
by attending class and
completing your
homework.
Work with a partner to think of ways you can learn and study using your
eyes, ears and muscles.
Ways to study using
your eyes.
Ways to study using
your ears
Ways to study using
your muscles
December 18, 2012
A Few Tips on Studying With Flash Cards
The most common use of flash cards is for learning vocabulary words.
You have probably tried this approach before. The vocabulary word
goes on one side of the card and the definition on the other.
Front
Monarch
Back
A single ruler of a country
such as a king or queen.
However, flash cards can be even more useful if you use them in different
ways. Read on for some ideas.
For vocabulary words, try adding a picture and a sentence that uses the
word in context.
Front
Back
A single ruler of a country
such as a king or queen.
Monarch
The monarch ruled her people
with wisdom and compassion.
December 18, 2012
Be sure to go through the deck of cards in both directions.
When you go from
to
Front
you are asking your
Back
brain to find the meaning of the word.
When you go from
Back
to
Front
you are asking your brain
to find the name for a definition.
Sort into piles........
As you quiz yourself, sort your cards into two piles:
Cards I Know Well
Cards I Need to Keep
Working On
Then, focus your time on the ones you really don't know.
December 18, 2012
Other Uses of Flash Cards
Time Line Cards:
• Use Time Line cards any time you need to remember a sequence of
events in a certain order (events in a novel, events from history, steps
in a scientific process, etc.)
• Write one event on the front of each card
• On the back of the cards, number the events in the correct order using
light pencil
• shuffle the cards
• practice putting them in the correct order (you will need space so work
on the floor or a big table)
• when you are finished, flip over the cards to see if you put them in the
correct order
Concept Cards
• Write the name of a concept on one side of a card
• On the back, write the main details related to the concept
• You can make concept cards just after you read a section of a text
book
Front
5 Pillars of Islam
Back
• name of the 5 main duties for
Muslims
• explained in the Quran
• includes:
- belief in Allah and Muhammad
- pray 5 x / day
- give to those in need
- fast during Ramadan
- hajj
December 18, 2012
Process Cards
• Use Process Cards any time you need to remember steps in a
process, especially in math
• write the name of the process on one side
• write the steps on the back
• use the cards when studying or completing homework
Front
Finding the Greatest
Common Factor
Back
1. Write out the factors for
each number
2. Circle the numbers that are
factors of both numbers
3. Determine which circled
factor is the greatest
If you have space on your card, show an example
Find the GCF of 12 and 30
1. Factor 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
2. Factor 30: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10,
15, 30
3. Circle the ones in common
4. Decide which circled
number is the greatest..6!
Question Cards:
• Write a question on the front
• Write the answer on the back
Online Flash Cards:
• If you like to make flash cards on the computer consider using the
following web sites:
www.quizlet.com
www.studystack.com
• These sites will save your electronic flash cards so you don't lose
them
• You can print out your flash cards
• You can turn your flash cards into different kinds of quizzes
• Only use these sites if you aren't too distracted by the computer!
December 10, 2012
Ideas for Using Two Column Notes
You can use a two column system to study vocabulary words
and other concepts. You can also use the two column system
for taking notes.
To get started with two column notes, you first need to set up
your paper. Draw a line just to the left of the center of the
page. Or, if you like to take notes using your computer, you
can use set up a table with two columns. Either way, you
paper should look something like the example on the next
page.
December 10, 2012
To study vocabulary words, write the word in the left column and
the definition in the right column.
Ecosystem
Biome
organism
All of the living and non living things
in a certain area.
Climates and regions with similar
conditions.
ex. tundra, grasslands or forests.
An independent, living thing.
You can study vocabulary words from any class, including
foreign language, math, history and English.
When you have finished writing, fold the page and quiz yourself. Be
sure to quiz yourself using both sides of the page!
As you read a passage in a textbook, you can take notes using the two
column format. What would you write in each column? Take a look
below to get some ideas.
• main ideas
• specific details
• person
• details about person
• event
• details and importance of event
• question
• answer
December 10, 2012
Example of Two Column Notes: The Huang He Valley of China
Notice the information in the right column should not be in complete
sentences. Bulleted lists are a great option.
Yellow River
• called Huang He in China
• floods annually
• floods -deposit rich, yellow silt - helps
farmers
China's Sorrow
• nickname for Huang He b/c so many
have died in floods
loess
How did farmers try
to control the Huang
He?
• dusty yellow soil that washes into
Huang He making it yellow
• by building levees (walls)
- they didn't work for all floods
When you are ready to review your notes or prepare for a test, you have
a study guide all prepared! Just fold and quiz yourself.
Once you feel comfortable using two column notes, you might want
to try using THREE columns! What might you write in the 3rd
column? You can try:
. a chart or diagram
• your reaction to something you wrote in your notes
• an example
• a picture that illustrates a word or concept