Ecology of life. Life hack: It’s the end of November, which means that the exam session will begin very soon at universities. University teachers always encourage you to prepare for exams from the first of September, and, in general, they are right: if you read all the dregs that they wrote in an extremely chaotic manner, and sometimes in clumsy language, then it will really take no less to memorize all this several months.

It’s the end of November, which means that the exam session at universities will begin very soon. University teachers always encourage you to prepare for exams from the first of September, and, in general, they are right: if you read all the dregs that they wrote in an extremely chaotic manner, and sometimes in clumsy language, then it will really take no less to memorize all this several months.

But which of the adequate students learns all this nonsense all the time - and six months before testing it? It even happens that you don’t want to study until the last moment, that is, until the very last moment, when there are a day left before the exam, or even the last sleepless night, and you don’t want to use “spurs” or don’tcan do it. It is these heroes, not gnawing, but storming the granite of science, that I want to help.

At the same time, it would probably be useful to make a reservation: I have experience in successfully training schoolchildren and students using these methods - specifically in humanitarian subjects (social studies, law, history, literature). What is going on there in biology, mathematics, astronomy and physics and chemistry - I have no idea.

But here in relation to the disciplines of the humanitarian cycle, the recommendations presented work perfectly, always according to the stamp - and for any acceptable grade, up to “five”. True, only if you do not suffer from memory problems, and if you have at least slightly developed associative thinking.

Here we take as an example school textbook in social studies. Let's look at what sections this very social studies includes. We write down the names of these sections on a piece of paper and learn them by heart (just the names of the sections). I would like to emphasize that you must write it out!

Next, we look through the sections themselves and make sure that they include chapters and paragraphs, based on this we understand what they generally want from us (well, let’s say, the “economics” section studies production, distribution, exchange and consumption, everything else is derivative).

Next - work on each individual section: we learn by heart and try to understand the key terms and other information highlighted in bold in the textbook, we completely ignore everything else.

By the way, the main problem of students is that they are trying to learn unnecessary stuff, of which there is usually 95 percent in the textbook. So this mistake should not be repeated, especially many times. “Water” is not worthy of attention.

As a result, you will be surprised that any thick book, squeezed to the last drop, like a lemon, fits in a notebook four times smaller than even your lecture notebook. And the content required for an “A” on the exam is much greater than in your lecture notebook.

Since we turned to social studies and the “economics” section, let’s see what we got in this section. What happened is this: you need to remember what economics is, what types of economic systems there are, what factors of production are, and three or four more laws, highlighted in bold.

With proper concentration, this is an hour, maximum, an hour and a half - and you will know it all from the teeth. No one will ask more from you, believe me. Exactly the same for all other sections. It is highly advisable to leave forty minutes to an hour at the end to speak and sort out the written phrases, diagrams and, possibly, some sketches. That's it, you're ready for the exam, go ahead!

There may be pitfalls in subjects of historical and literary nature. There is a lot of information in them, it would seem difficult to cram into some kind of schematic sketches. Names, plots, dates... It all makes my head swell! There is always a risk of confusing Mamai with Batu, and Bolkonsky with Lensky. Therefore, when memorizing history and literature, a slightly different method works.

If you absolutely do not understand and do not see the cause-and-effect relationships between dates, events, names and facts, and even if you constantly confuse one with the other, then you need to draw a table with a couple of vertical stripes and a lot horizontal.

Vertical Columns- "Name actor", "what did you do?" (we write it down literally in a few words), in relation to history - also “date”, you can allocate a separate tablet for some difficult-to-remember peace treaties.

Then horizontally you should have a plot that is understandable to you. As a result, an extremely compact table emerges for any work that has not been read, but which needs to be forced to know and remember, and for each block historical events(well, there is serfdom, revolutions, world wars, collectivization, the “thaw”, Gorbachev-Yeltsin democracy and so on in the same spirit).

If confusion still arises, highlight each horizontal stripe with a specific color– and associatively tie this color to the person and the event – ​​within the framework of the table. For example, you associate Kolchak with the color blue, Wrangel with white, and Lenin with red, or somehow vice versa - whichever is more convenient for you to perceive. The main thing is the principle itself, and it works flawlessly.

Someone might argue that this is a very long time, and there’s no way you’ll have time the night before the exam. Nothing like that! As soon as you start doing this, you will see that according to the literature you only need to remember a dozen and a half basic literary works(with a very simple plot, as it turns out), and in history there are only a few large blocks of events and facts, easily depicted and linked schematically.

All these frightening and seemingly unordered dates, plots and names are again compactly, comprehensively and, what is important, quickly fit into a small notebook.

Well, again - if you choose the most essential and do not bother with the unnecessary: ​​say, in relation to literature, with Pushkin, Gogol, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Sholokhov, you will have to strain, but Shalamov, Rubtsov or Vampilov can be completely ignored.

You need to memorize according to the tables-sections - and again you need to leave forty minutes to an hour to talk through all this in general outline and not get confused in the exam. And if you strain yourself for just a few hours, then combat readiness is again guaranteed!

I will repeat and emphasize: such schemes are guaranteed to be suitable for all humanities subjects without exception. And the indicated methods will allow you to memorize and for some time remember in detail a textbook of any complexity - a maximum of 6-7 hours before hour X.

That is, a few hours before the exam I was “zero” and “wooden”, and having prepared according to these recommendations, I came and received an “excellent” (or some other maximum score), answering all the tricky questions of a grumpy and picky examiner. I bet you, this is more than possible! If, I repeat, you do not have pathological problems with memory, and if you do not completely lack associative-figurative thinking.

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At the same time, do not expect that the information learned in this way will stay in your head for more than a month. Your goal is only an “A” on the exam, honestly, without headphones or spurs. If you want long-term memory, follow exactly the same scenarios, just devote not 6-7 hours to the process, but, say, a couple of days - for each relevant subject.

And one more point, and an important point... I still wouldn’t recommend resorting to forced technologies too often: once, two or three times in a session is nothing, but from systematic such feats the psyche is really overloaded. This kind of intellectual marathon, for all its temporary effectiveness, is permissible only when there is a very great need. And immediately before the exam, it is highly advisable to get enough sleep.

Good luck and health at the session! published

Firstly, force yourself to do something. As you know, before an exam you want to do whatever you want, just not to prepare for it. Just don't overdo it. At this time, one can recall long-forgotten and postponed cases. Distract under the pretext that it would be time to have a bite. Show yourself as an exemplary son (daughter) and carry out some parental assignment (go to the market, fix a shelf, sweep the floor). But no more. Done? Secondly, now you have to make an effort. Set a rate - say, one hour or, for example, one ticket. We have sorted out the topic of one ticket - take a breather. Third, if you need to remember something historical date, try to remember what this date means for you personally? Maybe it's mom's or aunt's birthday? Or maybe on this day you did something for the first time or went somewhere? What if this date resembles someone’s phone? Fourthly, What is the best way to remember the material? There are different opinions. For example, I am categorically against cramming. I consider mnemonics to be the most successful way of memorizing. What kind of “beast” is this? The thing is quite complex, including, in particular, memorization by associations. Need to remember the formula? Try looking at it from a different angle and reading it as a word. Match each letter in the formula with a word and make up a funny sentence that will “get stuck” in your head. I’ll tell you a secret: the more indecent the association, the better it is remembered. It is convenient to remember any definitions, phenomena, events, reducing them to what you already know. You memorize some long definition and compare it with some phenomenon. Moreover, it is important to understand the essence of the definition, and not to memorize it. Rarely do any teachers take hostility to your explanation of the definition in your own words instead of the memorized version. On the contrary, if you can restate the definition in your own words, then you understand the material. Fifthly, at different people developed different types memory: visual, auditory, motor. It will be more useful for people with developed visual memory to read the material. Then I remember the page on which it is stated the right topic. For those who have developed motor memory, it is better to write down the material (that is, start writing cheat sheets). If you feel that the process has finally begun, you understand the material, can explain it and are not yet tired, continue!

At sixth, In the evening, allow yourself to relax. Take a walk, chat on the phone, read a detective story, visit a friend. But be home before midnight. If you don't get enough sleep overnight, sleeping during the exam can lead to a retake!

Seventh, Before going to bed, I advise you, if not studying, then at least skimming through the material you have covered. Try, looking at the title, to remember the general content of the question (if you can’t, look at the section). Psychologists say that information received during falling asleep and waking up is best remembered. What not to do First of all, never go to extremes. If you surround yourself with textbooks, turn off your phone and barricade yourself in your room, I doubt that such preparation will be highly effective. Secondly, I do not recommend preparing for the exam with a friend (unless he (she) understands the material better than you ). Such preparation most often turns into a lot of chatter and a waste of time. Thirdly, even if you wrote cheat sheets, I don’t recommend using them. When you have such “burning” paper in your pocket, your head doesn’t work well. It's better to write and leave it at home.

There's an exam tomorrow and you didn't prepare for it because you didn't have time or you put off studying for later? You can prepare for the exam in one day if you are disciplined and attentive. It is better to prepare in advance, for example, a week before the exam, but there are situations when this is impossible to do. In this article, we will tell you how to prepare for the exam in one day.

Steps

Environment

    Find a suitable place to practice. Nothing and no one should distract you - neither friends, nor any objects in your bedroom. Find a study space where you can focus on the material you're learning.

    • Study somewhere that is fairly quiet and peaceful, such as a private room or library.

  1. Prepare everything you need. Before you begin studying, have everything you need ready, such as textbooks, notes, markers, a computer, a light snack, and water.

    • Remove everything that will distract you.

  2. Turn off your phone. If you don't need your smartphone for studying, turn it off so it doesn't distract you from studying the subject. So you can focus solely on the material being studied.

    Consider whether you should study on your own or in a group. Since time is limited, it's probably best to study on your own, but sometimes it's helpful to study in a small group to better understand concepts and terms. If you decide to study in a group, make sure that it consists of people who are no worse prepared than you; otherwise, the efficiency of work in the group will not be very high.

    Learn to work effectively with a textbook. You won't remember the material if you just read the textbook (especially if your time is limited). While reading the textbook, pay special attention to summary chapters and basic information in bold.

    • Find the questions that appear after each chapter (or at the end of the textbook). Try to answer these questions to test yourself and see what you need to learn.

  3. Create tutorial. It will allow you to better understand the material and quickly review it on exam day. Include the most important concepts, terms, dates, and formulas in your study guide and try to express the basic concepts in your own words. Formulating concepts yourself and writing them down on paper will help you better understand and remember the material.

    • If you don't have time to create a study guide, ask a friend or classmate for one. But it will be better if you create your own study guide, since articulating and writing down the basic concepts will help you remember the information better.

  4. Prepare for the appropriate exam format. If you are pressed for time, be sure to consider the exam format when preparing for the exam. About the format of the exam, ask your teacher or look in the syllabus, or ask your classmates.

Lesson plan

    Create a lesson plan. Include material that will definitely be on the exam, e.g. important dates, certain scientific concepts, mathematical formulas or equations. If you don't know what will be asked on the exam, ask your classmates. To pass the exam, it is important to know what material you need to study (especially when time is limited).

    Create a class schedule. Plan out the entire day leading up to the exam and determine the hours you will devote to studying the material. Don't forget to make time for sleep.

    Create a list of topics to study. Review your textbook, study guide, and notes and write down the topics that will appear on the exam.

Don’t know how to prepare for the exam quickly, and most importantly, efficiently?
Having collected my meager life experience and the experience of older generations of students, I developed my own methodology for passing exams, which allows:

1. prepare for any exam in 2 days;
2. do not use the spurs and smart heads of fellow university workers;
3. pass the exam itself with “good” or even “excellent”.

I myself am a lover of money [hence], a lover of receiving an increased scholarship [hence], a lover of passing exams with excellent marks. Moreover, I don’t know what the tail looks like or even where to get it. And let me be the proof that this test preparation strategy works. Yes, yes, modesty is the last quality on the list of my virtues.

There are two days left before the exam.

The exam is on the nose, but you didn’t move a finger or convolutions? I won’t scold you, because I myself like to lie down for another hour on the couch. And certainly not with a summary in hand. But you still need to prepare, so let's get started.

2. At the end of the first step, you will most likely find that you do not have all the answers. To restore this space, pick up a textbook or keyboard and mouse. And for recording, use notepads like this [see. photograph 2]. Write the answer to the question on one sheet [both sides]. Why is this so? But because it is precisely such a volume of oral and written answers that will satisfy even a picky teacher. And it is to prescribe, and not to print on a computer. Our brain has amazing ability memorize what we write with our own hands. I especially recommend this method to “visuals” [people who perceive information well visually]

So, by the end of the second day, we have answers to all questions in writing, which in itself is already wonderful and surprising.

There is only one day left before the exam.

I don’t know about others, but it is on this day that laziness overcomes me especially strongly. So much so that I don’t even want to get up from the couch, much less get up, teach, write, get nervous. But we are smart and registered all the questions yesterday. Therefore, putting a cat under one side and a box of chocolate cookies under the other, we begin to read what we wrote. Personally, three readings are enough for me to remember all the material in a humanities subject. Luckily, I don't have any technical experience. On the same day, I advise you to go to bed before 12 o'clock. The information you read will fit into the brain compartments in the required composition and proportions, and you will not become the owner of a morning headache and general lethargy.

Exam day.

Well, here he is. As usual, having become quite nervous, the student begins to create a small pile. No, not what you thought, the student is still not a bear. Create a bunch of questions, three of which [the most interesting] I will try to answer.

What to wear?
As a being of the female gender, I really love this question. And I won’t be surprised by the answer. Dress in business casual or something close to it. I myself watched how teachers were delighted with a student in a suit. I do not advise girls to wear short skirts and low necklines. This can make the teacher very, very angry. And also ambiguously hint at the lack of knowledge in your head. Also use a minimum of cosmetics and a minimum of perfume [I say “minimum” and not “absence” because few people are capable of such a sacrifice].

Where to spit, how to shout and what to scratch?
Even the most cynical and pragmatic people during the exam period begin to put their heels under their heels and whisper “get a freebie.” You can also put notes and textbooks under your pillow overnight; in your sleep, all the information will be absorbed into your bright and empty head. It is also not advisable to wash your hair and shave before the exam; you will wash off and scrape off all your knowledge. And it’s better to pull the ticket with your left hand, so that it’s closer to your heart, dear. “The effectiveness of these drugs has not been confirmed and has not been tested on animals.”

How and when to speak?
I advise you to enter the exam in the top ten. Teachers have an opinion that only excellent students are the first to answer. That is, you already have one plus for dressing correctly, now you get a second one for entering among the smart and knowledgeable.
If the exam is written, that's all the advice is over. We write - we rent.
If the exam is oral, everything is just beginning. It's no secret that oral exams are passed either by those who are well prepared or by those who speak well. If you have neglected the first points of my advice, then let’s focus on the second option. Your main task now will be to invite the teacher to dialogue. To do this, you must say something for about a couple of minutes. Preferably on topic. Even if you are not sure what you are saying is correct, say it anyway. Just make your tone more confident and at the same time look the teacher in the eyes. Your tone and not being afraid to show shameless eyes [plus a suit and a desire to rush into battle] can make the teacher confident that you prepared diligently, but “messed up something because you are very nervous.” And he will rightly begin to ask leading questions, and this is exactly what we need. But the most important thing is don’t overplay. Cheap one-man theater, not the best the best option for contemplating the already tired of the life and stupidity of the world of the teacher. And lastly, during your monologue, do not even think about asking questions to the teacher. Receiving a response is unlikely. But the proposal to take a walk behind the shank will come immediately.

This concludes the list of ways to survive during the session. I’ll go glue the stickers myself, and I wish you good luck in preparation and during delivery. I hope I helped you in some way.
Break a leg! ;)

(c) Olga Smotrina

The joke that a student can learn Chinese overnight became a joke almost during the time of our great-grandfathers. And although not all students, when preparing for exams, choose the sprinter strategy, it is still the image of the poor fellow squeezing a textbook into his skull the night before the exam that dominates the mass perception of the session.

Getting ready overnight is an act of student valor, an act of bravado. It's like eating a pot of pasta without sauce or butter. The student should be hungry and think about the exam the day before! In reality, of course, student life is not so extreme, but there are plenty of sprinters in any department.

Where do they come from? A significant part of sprinters are slackers and freeloaders. But there are also many natural-born deadline sprinters who manage to pass exams with excellent marks. Psychologists say that these homo sapiens have a strong impulse component of temperament. They are spurred on by an adrenaline rush.

By the way, if the sprint strategy for preparing for the exam is already good (with all its many shortcomings), it’s because you don’t need to specifically work on motivation, like or. And so the adrenaline is through the roof.

So, how can you optimize your exam preparation process if you are a born (or forced to become) sprinter? How to prepare for the exam in a day? Per day? Or even overnight?

16 exam preparation tips for an incorrigible sprinter

  1. Need some sleep! Sounds ridiculous, especially if you're going to sit through textbooks and lectures all night. However, we are absolutely serious. If you remembered the exam not at midnight before it, but a little earlier, prepare for the sprint with a quality rest. After returning from a party, studying for an exam is much more difficult.

Do not forget also that it is sleep that is our main assistant in fixing information in long-term memory. Surely you have heard about the sign - they say, you need to fall asleep before the exam with a textbook under your pillow. This sign has a powerful psychological basis. Therefore, it is best to prepare for the exam during the day, and sleep at night and consolidate what you have learned.

If you still prepare for the exam at night, sleep 1.5 or 3 hours in the morning. This will help activate the processes of “compaction” and assimilation of information. Why exactly 1.5 or 3 hours? Because . It’s easier to wake up, better quality rest.

  1. An equally important task is not to fall asleep! In preparation. Coffee and dark chocolate are classics of nightly pre-exam vigils. Interestingly, cappuccino, latte or regular coffee with milk or condensed milk work even better than espresso, as they are stimulated not only by caffeine, but also by a powerful dose of carbohydrates.

Try not to abuse energy drinks; after all, these red bulls are harmful to the body. But if you decide to spur yourself on with energy drinks, then don’t drink coffee, just one thing. The same goes for Coca-Cola: if you mix it with coffee, you risk ending up with a heart attack in the hospital, and not at the examiner’s appointment. Or or.

Is it worth stimulating the brain with drugs? Except for eleutherococcus, ginseng and safe nootropics (Glycine, Piracetam, which are sold in pharmacies without a prescription). But the problem is that these drugs need to be taken in courses; the effect will be noticeable after 2 - 3 weeks. On the Internet you can find the following advice: they say, if you decide to prepare for an exam in 1 day or overnight, pop a couple of Glycine tablets. So, if you have never taken this drug before, you should not experiment. You can get the opposite effect:

  1. What to eat while sprinting for an exam? Nuts are the best refueling. An excellent snack for a student immersed in learning is a sandwich made from whole grain bread, honey and nuts. Sandwiches with salmon and avocado are good for snacking. Another option is sandwiches with noble cheese (blue cheese), honey and pear/grapes.

If you are preparing for an exam during the day, be sure to start the day with a healthy, energy-rich breakfast (this will launch metabolic processes and make the brain work more efficiently). Lunches and dinner should provide energy, but not be dense and greasy: otherwise it will make you sleepy.

  1. Relax! Yes, yes, you need to give yourself a little rest, even if you only have 8 to 12 hours to prepare for the exam. During each hour, allocate 5–10 minutes to rest:
  • Meditation and breathing exercises are excellent methods for relieving stress and increasing concentration.
  • Stretching and/or a full-fledged physical exercise warm-up - this will help relieve muscle tension and activate blood flow to the brain.
  • "Brain Reset"– five minutes of nothing (if you are afraid to fall asleep, set an alarm clock).
  1. Be sure to hide under the glass cover. Prepare for the exam in a calm environment, eliminating external stimuli as much as possible. Naturally, turn off all sorts of Skype, ICQ and the like.

What is the best way to study the material to prepare for the exam in a day?

Now let’s move on to the methods and technologies of compacting into the gray matter all the knowledge that needed to be crammed there during the semester.

  1. What questions should you teach first?Tactics will have to be chosen taking into account the circumstances:
  • If you have already acquired some knowledge during the semester, start studying exam questions that you already have an idea about. This will set the stage for exploring related topics.
  • The second option is to move forward strictly according to the logic of the topics being studied. This principle should be followed in cases where each subsequent topic is based on the previous ones.
  • If you are a follower mnemotechnology "House" ("Chambers of the Mind"), it makes sense to learn the tickets one after another, “arranging” the information in each new room and hanging a sign on the door with the ticket number (“a house” may well be a “hotel”).
  • It is better to leave the most difficult questions for a snack, be sure to allocate enough time for them, and learn the easy ones first.
  • However, there is also the opposite opinion - difficult things should be learned first, while concentration and energy are at their peak.

Perhaps the choice of tactics is an individual thing... The main thing is to be consistent, and not rush from ticket to ticket!

  1. Do you suspect that you won't have time to learn all the questions? You should not play roulette, hoping that you will get the right ticket. It is more advisable to do this: ideally (well, or at least more or less) learn the first questions of each ticket. And on the second one - walk around a little. A good start will ensure your teacher's favor. Even if you fail in the second question, your chances of passing the exam with a decent grade are quite good.
  1. What to do if you do not have information on some exam papers? The most important thing is to figure this out at the very beginning of your sprint race. In this case, there is a chance to find a student who will prepare answers and/or spurs for you in a few hours of nightly vigils. Perhaps you can get the necessary information from a classmate who will send it by email. Therefore, start your exam preparation by reviewing exam questions and knowledge sources.
  1. Limit the flow of information on each issue. It will not be possible to thoroughly delve into the topics being studied, so it is very important that all the information studied is relevant, presented briefly and structured. A short answer instead of a textbook chapter is what a sprinter needs, who only has 10 to 30 minutes to study one question. Where can I get these answers to exam questions? Ask senior students for high-quality spurs, order answers to exam papers from student dancers.
  1. Don't get hung up on individual issues. Don’t allow yourself to spend 2–3 hours on one question. Set a timer, it will mobilize.
  1. Your task is understanding, not memorization. Try to understand what you are studying so that you can tell it in your own words during the exam (or, in extreme cases, speculate). Find logical connections between the blocks of information being studied. By the way, the most successful sprinters are erudite and logicians with well-spoken languages, capable of creating a full-fledged answer on a minimal information base.
  1. Reduce the array of information on each issue to several theses. Structure and simplify! Create an information “concentrate” on the basis of which you will answer. Each thesis is a package with a “concentrate”, pulling the development of thoughts, associations, logical constructions.

It makes sense to skim through the theses an hour before the exam. It is in theses that crib sheets should be prepared.

One of the thesis technologies for preparing for an exam and in general for any speech is three sentence method. Contain in them the most important thing: the problem, main idea, final conclusion.

  1. To remember accurate information(dates, formulas, rules, definitions, etc.) use mnemonic methods. The method of associations and the already mentioned method of "House" ("Halls of the Mind") have proven themselves well.
  1. Arm yourself with a pen. Fine motor skills activate the brain, including memory processes. In the process of studying the material, build diagrams, chronological lines, neural maps. All this, by the way, can become the basis for compiling cheat sheets.
  1. When studying material, focus on your type of memory: visual, auditory or kinetic.
  1. Get ready, the two of you, the three of you. Talk through topics and explain them to each other.(This technology will not allow you to slip away - of course, if the comrades are also set to study; it is better not to start this enterprise with "saboteurs").

By the way, it was with the help of this method that the author of this article prepared “excellently” for the exam in 8 hours, which he remembered about somewhere around midnight. After the birthday. In the campus. WITH true friends. With a glass of champagne in one hand, a piece of cake in the other, and a textbook on my lap

Something to remember!