Best Strategies to Tackle Midterm Exams

With the first half of the semester coming to a close, students are faced with the dreaded midterm exams. While exam schedules vary based on classes, it’s officially that time of the semester when everyone is busy studying for something. 

As fall break approaches, motivation starts to slip, and those late nights in the library become more painful. Finish strong and stay on top of your exam schedule by implementing these study methods. 

According to The Princeton Review, creating a change of scenery while studying can assist your brain in retaining information. Having a variety of places to do work, such as coffee shops, libraries, or even your desk at home, is a great way to mix it up while you’re grinding. 

Getting in a routine is also important. Determine what time of the day works best for you, even if that varies day-to-day, and set a schedule accordingly. By doing this, you’re holding yourself accountable, and it will become a natural part of your day before you know it. 

Neena Edupuganti is a current senior and serves as Zeta Tau Alpha’s academic chair. as part of her role, she brainstorms ways to promote studying within her chapter. 

“As academic chair, I try to find fun ways to incentivize people to study,” Edupuganti said. “A 25-dollar gift card is given to the person who sends in the most A’s every month as a reward for their hard work.” 

She also sees value in studying with classmates and encourages girls to create study groups. 

“I have reserved a weekly study room in Sankey to encourage people to study together,” Edupuganti said. “I believe that studying with others is a great way to better understand the material.”

Education Corner emphasizes the importance of using study groups because they enable students to learn from each other. Studying together allows individuals to collaborate and share resources which can expand their knowledge on a topic. 

Working as a group also alleviates some of the stress that comes with exams. It gives you a built-in support system and can help you stay motivated throughout the process.  

Finding an open study room during exams is practically impossible, but studying as a group in someone’s dorm, at a coffee shop, or even in an empty classroom, are great ways to prepare.