By Bree Colyer

1. Create a study schedule – and follow it 

   Split the material into chunks that is achievable, so you don’t get overwhelmed with the big picture.

2. Motivation 

   You need to be motivated to work hard and learn, whether or not you like the material or the teacher. Put your mind to it and achieve it. The success is up to you. “It’s hard for me to get motivated, but I just try to finish the class strong and in the end it will be worth it,” said Austin Harper ‘18.

3. Take breaks 

   It’s impossible to memorize and comprehend everything at once. Take hour intervals of 50 minutes of studying and 10 minutes of relaxing.

4. Block out distractions 

   Put down the phone, turn the TV off and find a quiet comfortable place to get away from any potential distractions. “I have a hard time putting my phone down but when I do I get a lot more accomplished,” said Elise George ‘18.

5. Play music 

   No, this doesn’t mean listening to the latest rap song as loud as your speaker can go. Create a chill playlist that lasts around 50 minutes and when it’s done playing through, you know your study time is up and it’s time for a break.

6. Meet up with a friend 

   Go over the material and study together (while being focused), two heads are better than one! “Have your siblings read the questions from your study guide, and answer them out loud,” said Sam Gernaat ‘18.

7. Don’t memorize, understand 

   It won’t help much to memorize orders, make sure you fully understand the material that you’re studying. Odds are the answers on the exam won’t be in the same order and worded the same exact way as before.

8. Eat a healthy breakfast 

   Your brain needs energy to perform. Eating a nutritious breakfast can increase alertness, and overall performance. Otherwise you may feel sluggish, drowsy, or burned out. Ex: a smoothie, omelet, fruit, or yogurt. “I like to bring healthy snacks for throughout the day to keep me going,” said Brittany Molenaar ‘18.

9. Get plenty of sleep 

   You might be tempted to pull an all nighter, but that’s not such a good idea as you may think. Get a full eight hours of sleep to test your best! “I test better and more focused when I get a full night’s sleep,” said Hayley Hawkes ‘17.

10. Reward yourself 

    After spending numerous hours studying, its time to set aside the academics and take some time for yourself. Whether that be, going to a movie, spending time with friends, going outdoors or even binge watching netflix.