Find or create a well-lit area. When it’s too dark around you, your body thinks, “Hey! It’s time to hit the hay!” Fool it by turning on plenty of lights, simulating daytime. [2] X Research source
Go for fruits. An apple does a better job at keeping you focused and awake than caffeine. [4] X Research source It’s higher in natural sugars and it is nutritious. Nutrition should be thought of as energy in this circumstance. If you’re full, you won’t be thinking about food, another reason you’ll be able to stay focused.
If you still have your syllabus, great. Use it as an outline. The topics that pop up more than once are likely to be on the test.
Read the chapter summaries (they usually do a good job at summarizing the important points). If there are no chapter summaries, then skim through the text and write down key ideas.
Focus on the main ideas and learn key formulas. Skip the details for now and only come back to them if you see that you have time after you have learned the key points. Don’t attempt to learn everything; focus on things that will get you the most points on the exam. If your professor said the essay will be 75% of your grade, you’re best off preparing for that and skipping the multiple choice.
If you’re lucky enough to have an insomniac for a roommate, grab them. Ask them to listen to you spout off about certain concepts. Relaying information to another individual is a surefire way to guarantee you understand the ins and outs of the ideas.
Look for parallels, metaphors, and other memory-triggers to help you wrap your brain around complicated concepts. Write the keywords of your metaphor down to jog your memory while studying. Write the information down in mnemonic devices. Dumb Kids Playing Catch On Freeway Get Squashed –Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species (for a happy example). [6] X Research source
After 45 minutes or so, get up. Stretch your body and walk around. Grab a drink, get a snack, and hop back to it in 5 to 10 minutes. You should feel a bit more refreshed and ready for action. [7] X Research source
Try to get in at least 3 hours; that’s one full sleep cycle. [8] X Research source Waking up in the middle of one less than well-rested will be detrimental to your test score.
Think about this: The more food you eat before your exam, the less you will be thinking about how hungry you are, so help yourself by just eating something before your exam so you can stay at least somewhat focused.
Don’t do this while you’re taking the test – getting caught cheating will result in a much worse score than you were going to get if you hadn’t.
