How NOT to Study for an Exam

We all know that studying for an exam can be stressful, boring, and exhausting. But did you know that there are some ways of studying that are actually worse than doing nothing at all? In this blog post, I will share with you some of the most common and hilarious mistakes that students make when preparing for a test. Avoid these at all costs, unless you want to fail miserably and have a good laugh at yourself. 

• Cramming the night before. This is the classic blunder that many students fall victim to. They think that by staying up all night and stuffing their brains with information, they will somehow remember everything in the morning. Wrong! Not only will you be sleep-deprived and unable to focus, but you will also forget most of what you learned as soon as you close the book. The best way to study is to space out your sessions over several days or weeks and review the material regularly. 

• Studying with distractions. Another common mistake is to study in a noisy, crowded, or chaotic environment. Some students think that they can multitask and study while watching TV, listening to music, texting their friends, or browsing social media. Wrong again! These distractions will only reduce your concentration and comprehension, and make you waste more time than you need to. The best way to study is to find a quiet, comfortable, and well-lit place where you can focus on your work without interruptions. 

• Studying without a plan. Some students just open their books and start reading randomly, hoping that they will cover everything they need to know. This is a very inefficient and ineffective way of studying, as you will likely miss important points, get confused or bored, and lose track of your progress. The best way to study is to have a clear and realistic plan of what you want to achieve, how much time you have, and what resources you will use. Then, follow your plan and stick to it. 

• Studying only what you like or know. Some students tend to focus on the topics or subjects that they find easy, interesting, or fun, and neglect the ones that they find hard, boring, or dull. This is a very risky and biased way of studying, as you will end up with gaps in your knowledge, and struggle with the questions that you are not prepared for. The best way to study is to challenge yourself and study everything that is relevant for the exam, especially the parts that you don’t like or know. 
• Studying without testing yourself. Some students think that reading or listening to the material is enough to learn it. They don’t bother to check their understanding, recall the information or apply it to different situations. This is a very passive and superficial way of studying, as you will not be able to retain the information for long or use it effectively in the exam. The best way to study is to actively test yourself on what you have learned, using quizzes, flashcards, practice questions or mock exams. 

So, there you have it: five ways how not to study for an exam. If you want to ace your test, do the opposite of what I said in this blog post. And if you want to fail spectacularly and have some fun along the way, follow my advice and enjoy the consequences.