Getting Ready for Midterms

At this point in the semester, midterms are soon to arrive, and similar to preparing for any exam, it is always best to start ahead of time. Encourage your student to prepare to the best of their ability by organizing themselves ahead of time, reaching out to their professors for additional support, or finding a study group. Keep reading for three important steps to remind your student how to best prepare for this stressful season. 

Create Flash Cards & Study Guides As You Go

One study tactic that is often overlooked is creating a system of creating flashcards and study guides throughout the semester rather than waiting until right before the big test. It can be done during lectures, after each class, or even after each week, but help them avoid waiting until the last minute to create these study tools. It is not too late to put this into practice! Encourage your student to buy a pack of flashcards or better yet, send them a midterms care package with some jumbo flashcards, new pens, post-it notes, and more for the ultimate test prep delivery! 

This strategy will help them with not only midterms, but finals, and exams throughout the year. Keeping up with what they are learning each week, rather than waiting until the last minute to create a large study guide can save time and stress. This will allow your student to spend more time memorizing and taking in the information, rather than cramming for an exam last minute and feeling overwhelmed.

Take Good Notes in Class

Another important step in a successful midterm is taking detailed notes while in class. Help your student determine if taking digital notes is sufficient, or if handwriting notes presents a better opportunity to focus and retain new concepts and ideas.

Pay attention to what your professor is both saying and writing on the board. If the slides used are not made readily available, encourage them to ask their professor if it is possible to get a digital copy in preparation for midterms. This will allow them to revisit topics especially if they are a visual learner! Good note-taking will take a student far in class and be a valuable asset as they prepare for midterms.

Review All Readings

One of the best ways to prepare for a big test is by reviewing the readings that have been provided throughout the class. The best thing for a student to do is to write three or four sentences about each reading and a quote or concept they can use for an essay response on the exam. If there are portions of the reading that are still unclear to the student, this is the best time to clarify their questions with the professor and discuss concepts and ideas with their classmates.

Partner With a College Coach

At College Success Plan, we know that some students can see a huge increase in work performance with a little extra support and encouragement coming from someone outside of their immediate family. If you are sensing that your student is feeling overwhelmed by upcoming exams and could benefit from virtual coaching calls with a college coach, do not hesitate to book a free intro call with our team and hear about the many resources we offer students to help them be as successful as possible. We are here to support you and your student at every point in the semester, midterms included. 

Be sure to pass these tips along to your child and encourage them to eat well and sleep well the night before the test. Taking care of oneself is a key part of being successful, especially in high-stress scenarios like midterms.