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Dept. of Political Science
Box 504, Scobey Hall
SDSU
Brookings, SD 57007
Phone: 605-688-4914
FAX: 605-688-5977
Gary_Aguiar@sdstate.edu
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Study Tips and Test-Taking Strategies
Studying tips:
- Use "spaced repetition" to learn material. Avoid cramming
the night before an exam.
Instead of studying eight hours in one night, study
two hours for four nights.
- Try to study at the same time of day as the class meets.
- If possible, try to study in one place all the time.
You begin to associate the ideas you learn
with that place. (Perhaps, the best place to study is
in the classroom where the course is taught.)
- Find a comfortable, quiet place to study, preferably
in a well-lit area
with a strong lamp behind your shoulders.
- Study in 45 minute increments, followed by ten minute breaks.
- Learn to read at different speeds. Some material
requires an intensive, slow pace.
Other material can be skimmed or read at a more normal pace.
- Preview the assigned reading material. Note
section headings, tables, and figures.
- Carry on a dialogue with the material.
Converse with the author. Ask questions.
- Throw away your highlighters! Instead, use a
pen or pencil to make notes in the margins.
Mark only the most important passages in the text,
especially those that summarize a section.
- Better yet, make an outline of the chapter as
you read it. Use the section headings as your guide.
- Review (or re-write) your lecture notes within
48 hours (or preferably 24 hours) after class.
- If possible and appropriate, merge your chapter
outlines and lecture notes into one set of study sheets.
Memorize them for the exam.
- Use mnemonic devices to memorize a list of items.
For example, if there are five items
to remember, use the fingers on one hand. Or mentally place
concepts in the room of a house.
For example, "incrementalism" is in the kitchen,
"decentralized" in the living room,
"negotiation" in the bedroom, and "individualism" in the bathroom.
- Experiment with some of these tactics. See what works for you!
- Check out Yahoo's links for
study aids.
Test taking strategies:
- Get lots of rest before the exam.
- Eat well, but it might be better to be a
little hungry as you proceed through the exam.
- Follow your normal routine as closely as possible.
- If you "black out" at the beginning of exams
(seemingly forget everything), take a few deep breaths.
- Look over entire exam first.
- Start with easy questions, especially multiple choice
and true-false questions.
- Think about short answer and essay types
before answering them. (Maybe, begin with an outline of your answer.)
- Be sure you answer all parts of each question!
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