failure hurts
don’t panic or stress
keep it under control
you can do it
i know you can
question your wrongs
learn from your mistakes
change your plan
fix your regime
learn from others around you
start with a fresh mind
renew yourself
failure does not define you
how to cram study for AP exams? 🥲
Hey dear Anon!
Thanks for the ask :)
How To Cram For Exams
Sleep. Hydration. Meals = Must
Snacking and hydration are a must. I recommend light snacking like nuts or fruits or some chocolates. I wouldn't go for heavy meals because they always make me feel sleepy.
Sleep is a must. Don't sacrifice your sleep for studying. During exams, 7–8 hours of sleep is a must. Don't stay awake after 12, you'll regret it. And sleep is different from breaks. You should not consider them the same.
Division Of Subjects
Every subject is learnt and graded differently. You can’t use the same study techniques for every subject you have. You have mostly 3 types of subjects:
Memorization based
Practical/Question based
Theory/Essay based
You use different study techniques for different subjects. Memorization based subjects require more revision. Practical/Question based subjects require more practice. Theory based subjects require you to learn how to format your information.
Read up more: Division Of Subjects
Note Skimming
First, take a topic. Try to remember 5 points, if you can't then just glance through it once. And then keep repeating the process until you know everything relevant for it. It works really well if you haven't picked up your textbooks in a while.
Practice Papers + Improvement Sheets
Create a fake exam environment. Sit on your desk with a timer, take a question paper and act as if you're actually writing the exam. Do this at least once and note everything. How much time you take to answer each question. What are your mistakes. Which section is your weakest. Note them down and most importantly, your overall improvements you should make.
For me, I did this for accounts, and it gave me so much clarity, especially the improvements. I used to go through this improvement sheet before my actual exam and I did not repeat even a single mistake again. The trick is to keep updating the sheet by adding improvements from your actual exams too.
Question Method
No matter how well you know your content, if you can't put it in words appropriately, then you won't get your grades.
Now, it's hard to remember every single thing, so here's a technique...
What? When? Who? Why? How? What's the use?
The basic information for any topic would be the answer to these questions. If you remember this and ca answer to it then you've prepared well enough.
If you want to read up more about it, check out: Question Method
Break It Down
Not your chapter. I mean the topic itself. Line by line if you have to. I did this exact thing for accounts whenever i had to do ratios. It was a pain. An unwanted pain. I couldn't understand anything. But i sat down one day and read every single line of the textbook for that topic. I made what i call "Line Visuals". This is simple.
You read a paragraph => You don't understand anything.
Read every line => Draw it
Understand the key terms used there
And then draw a single visual representation for that entire topic.
I'll guarantee you, you will understand it. Review it once a day for a week and then once a week.
Mnemonics + Story Method
Learn with these. It helps you to remember easily. Make catchy phrases and stories to remember points/facts. These are like the building blocks of studying anything. Stick small notes to your books writing the phrases beside the topic so the next time you want to revise it, it's easy.
If you want to read more about it, check out: How To Study Using The "Story Method"
Teach What You Learn
You learn the most when you teach. I had taken my friends for this. Study and teach it to them. This helps because you have to have a clear understanding of the material first rather to teach them and you may end up with some important feedback. Your friends might ask a specific question you didn't know the answer to and now all of you are trying to perfect yourself with the material.
Random Testing + Book Testing
Random testing is what you do as the final blow. You randomly answer questions that you're thinking about the topic. Book testing is basically when you open any page of the textbook, see the topic and literally say everything relevant to it. You can even write it down.
__________________
Hope This Helps :)
Okay, time's flying really fast. My term exam results come on Monday or Tuesday and my accountancy teacher told me that I did really bad and that she was disappointed in me and that i should concentrate more on it.
So, I'm wondering how the heck did I do bad in a subject that I was studying almost everyday?! And then this other girl studied 3 days before the exam and got like 95+
Honestly, the paper was alright but i panicked and did some shitty things :// gonna avoid that in the future.
Today I:
Revised some Economics
Did accounts (1 and a half hours)
And yes, I'm gonna be putting extra effort from now on because it's really close to my next term exams and then it's gonna be followed by Revision exams and I have a school function on top of that.... i just wanna sit and cry honestly T-T
Projects to complete:
Economics (by Monday)
Computers (By Oct end)
Day 7/ Day 9
Okay, only 1 more day until suffering kinda ends for like 2 months? Anyway, it was a productive day but I still have a ton of stuff to revise.
Completed:
Part IV of 17 lessons out of like 33 (T-T)
Revised MCQs
Need to revise:
Part IV of 16 more lessons
Gonna be a long night
Total hours of study: 6 hours and still counting (Updated: 8 hours)
I hate group projects, it's not necessarily the project rather, the people are not cooperative enough so here's some tips I use when I was chosen to do a PPT and a damn play with 13 members.
(Pictures aren't mine!)
Take phone numbers
Even though my teacher discouraged the idea of it, I still took the numbers of all the members and saved it on the same day the project was given even though the deadline was a month later. You should make sure that you have the necessary means of communication to every member.
Plan and outline within 3 days!
Make an outline of what needs to be done, plan out who's going to do what, how they'll do it, when will they complete it etc etc. The reason i do it within 3 days is because you'll get the base of how you'll do it because generally in group projects, by the time everyone completes the work and gives it to you, it would take atleast a week or two, if you start early, you'll complete earlier than everyone else
No group chats!
I personally don't prefer this because one i realised everyone just didn't reply expecting others to reply, especially when your group is big! So... Dms!! Just send the instructions personally, yes, it takes alot of time but it makes up for the energy wasted in group chats that involve unnecessary talks and questions.
Both face to face and text reminders!
When you've assigned work to every member, make sure they actually do it because you'll be the one responsible. Not gonna lie but reminders help especially when the deadlines are closer. Just a message like "Hey, friendly reminder about the XYZ project."
Save your own name!
This is something I'm really careful about. The accusation that you're being biased and assigning easier work to friends and people I'm close with. So, i figured that the best way to avoid it is to write all the work and the names of members in alphabetical order and assign accordingly. If the member can't do it, then I'll discuss and swap. It saves a hell lot of drama and actually results to better outcomes.
Back up
Make sure that there's always a second in command. This was a mistake I did, on the day of the 2nd project (the play), I was in one of the competitions and our teacher had started with our group first... I didn't exactly tell anyone that everything about the characters assigned to members and the narrations were in my bag so they had to scramble alittle but in the end, our group did the best play despite the situation so that's what you're aiming at. Your group needs to manage without you.
Flexibility
Do not, under any circumstances, expect everything to go well! You need to expect hindrances, like gurl, come on. A mistake I made in the PPT project, i made the PPT and told 4-5 people to explain it because that's how it was supposed to be done but in the end, ALL THE 4-5 PEOPLE HAD TO BE IN SPORTS PRACTICE so we ended up changing plans last minute. But nevertheless, we got an A-. Tell everyone to prepare accordingly.
Be a little lenient
Personally, when the teacher asked me to give the list of work everyone had done, i did'nt just write nothing for the members who didn't, i have even the smallest contribution because in the end, even one person's scores matters. It affects the whole damn group so be careful when you take out anger and frustration on the members when giving the list of contributions or even while doing the project. The last thing you need is drama.
Contact!
Make sure your members are comfortable enough to clear any questions or misunderstandings with you. If you don't know what's going in the group, you can't maintain the group. Be very clear that they can reach you any time.
Demo!!!
This is really important! Decide on a day and keep a demonstration of how your project is going to be presented. Do exactly as how you're going to do it infront of the teacher. Exchange some points on how to do better during the demo and discuss! It helps you to correct your mistakes.
Hope this helps! :)
hiii i just wanted to ask if you’re giving board exams this year or just regular final exams? btw i love your blog it motivates me to study everyday as well 💗
Hello dear Anon!
Sorry for the late reply, I'm sick right now so it's been alittle tiring T-T
Actually, you can say it's a mixture of board exams and finals, you know? The main thing for us is the last three highschool finals and each result is really important for college admissions.
And I'm glad that my blog motivates you! I really appreciate it! <3
Well, today was alright i guess. I did some accounts and economics... and for some reason, I'm like one of the few in my class who actually is anxious about the finals, especially accounts. Like, i literally an so confused with it this year but everyone else is like "Oh wow dude I love accounts this year, it's so easy" and I'm like T-T
Anyway, Today I:
Did 2 sums in accounts (took me 2 hours almost)
Made some economics notes
Thanks for the tag! :D
My gender is a good day for the month of the year of the day
(i don't have any idea what this is xD)
Tagging: (no pressure) @agirlwithglam @ashs-reverie @thelastneuron @girlwithherheadinthestars @valiantcoffeelove @gajina @ros3ybabe @wandering-whisperer (and any who wants to!)
Type "my gender is" on your phone and let your phone finish the sentence, then tag your moots to keep the chain going, I'll go first.
My gender is a little bit more intense than I thought I could have done
@mirukosbitchywife @get-junpeid
1. Remember you are not your notes or grades, It doesn't define you.
2. You can always do better the next time, learn from your mistakes and get better from your failure
3.You are allowed to feel bad but don't let get into your head and ruin your day. Do things to clear your head (watch a movie, write, hang out with friends, anything that makes you feel good)
4. Rest!! take time for yourself
5. Implement a new method for studying, Spent more time practicing or reading about the subjects.
6.Learn how to deal with frustration,( and Im sorry to tell you this but to have a resistance to failure you have to fail ,and learn from that.)
7. Don't compare yourself to other people.
And remember its not a big deal, a note or grade its not who you are, It doesnt matter if you fail because you can always try again and if someone makes you feel bad about failing, don't listen to them! I spent too much time feeling bad about failing a test so, I wanted to give advice that has helped me overcome that feeling!
Love ya!
-Ben
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