If you plan for these sessions in advance, it won’t feel so stressful. You’ll still need to put in extra work, but you’ll be mentally prepared for it. Plan your study sessions at times that work best for you. For example, if you’re a morning person, review your notes and quiz yourself bright and early. If you focus better in the evenings, study after dinner. [3] X Research source

You could review your notes right after class or right after you do your reading. You can also review them later in the day. Whatever works for you is fine.

This can also help you from feeling lots of nerves leading up to your test since you will have given yourself time to review everything.

Try setting a timer so that you don’t have to keep an eye on the clock the whole time.

Set a timer for your break so that you don’t accidentally forget to get back to studying.

If outside noises distract you, get a pair of good headphones. You can use them to play your own tunes or just to cancel out other sounds. You might also want to study outside of the house. A friendly coffee shop or the library are great options for study sessions.

It’s cool to take breaks while you study, but use them to stretch your legs or eat a snack. Try to stay off social media during your short breaks because you don’t want to accidentally go down a rabbit hole! Don’t watch TV or try to chat with friends via text while you study. If you need some background noise, turn on some music that won’t distract you.

During your sessions you can share notes, quiz each other, and help each other go over the material. Social learning is great because it allows you to share ideas and information. Plan to meet with your study group about once a week for an hour or two.

Don’t try to write down every word the teacher says or rewrite every word from the book. Concentrate on writing down key terms and themes. Write down any questions that come to mind as you’re taking notes. That way, you can look up the answers later.

This is a great strategy to try the week of the test. [12] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source This is a great activity for a study group, but you can do it on your own, too. Set a timer to practice taking the test in the amount of time you’ll have on exam day.

A good treat might be going out for ice cream or treating yourself to a manicure.