With scholarship money depending on exam grades for some students, many students are feeling pressured when studying for exams. This pressure can be harmful if they are not studying properly.
Pamela Ball, a study strategies counselor in the Center for Academic Success, said there is no single way to study, but there definitely are ways not to study.
Ball said students should look at the “big picture” before studying, meaning they should find when and where each test is during exam week and prepare themselves the week before the tests.
“The human brain learns best by seeing the big picture, then moving down to details,” Ball said. “If you do it this way the brain will be shaped and ready.”
Ball said students should not focus solely on the next test when studying, so students will be prepared for future tests.
“Many students will spend the entire weekend studying for the test on Monday, then Monday night for the test on Tuesday, and so on,” Ball said. “That is not the best way, because it causes exhaustion, which will make you unprepared for tests later in the week.”
Ball said the Center for Academic Success works with students to help calm test anxiety, because it often causes students to forget material when taking final exams.
“We teach them to breathe deeply and slowly,” Ball said. “When you are stressed, you actually hold your breath in, which causes a lack of oxygen to the brain.”
Ball said she also teaches test-taking techniques to help relieve stress.
“We teach them to answer all the questions they know first, because it builds confidence,” Ball said. “Stress often creates that mental block.”
Amy Cavender, wellness education coordinator, said stress is bad but it is controllable.
“The number one way to fight stress is to manage time wisely,” Cavendar said. “People tend to be less stressed if they do a little at a time. Usually, the people who procrastinate tend to stress, because the people who don’t stress tend not to have as many demands at the end of the semester.”
Cavendar said stress can cause physical harm.
She said people under stress for about a week will have a weakened immune system, which can lead to an infection. She said stress for periods of months can lead to high pressure and heart disease.
Cavendar said she advises students that are feeling stressed to make themselves a to-do list, so they can manage what they need to do.
She said many student organizations ask for her to speak to their students about stress management at the end of semesters, because they see the need.
Ball recommends at least six hours of sleep to prevent problems with health and test-taking.
Ball said students who do not sleep the night before an exam are often disappointed with their grades because they knew the material but could not focus like they normally do.
Cavendar recommends taking breaks and naps between studying to relieve stress.
“Depending on religion or culture, praying or meditating may also be helpful,” Cavendar said. “Massages or other activities may help release physical tension.”
Ball said students also should remain on their regular diets during exams because junk-food and caffeine diets causes students to be jittery and less able to concentrate.
Ball suggests meeting with a group two to three nights before the exam to discuss what will be on the test, then studying alone the night before.
“A study group can be very effective, but not on the night before,” Ball said. “At that point it will not be helpful if no preparation was done before.”
Paul Spivey, a biological sciences sophomore, said he is not normally stressed because he studies a week in advance for his exams, even though he faces the same pressures as other students with maintaining grades.
Spivey listed dental school, keeping his TOPS scholarship and keeping his parents happy as reasons he is trying to maintain his grades.
Spivey said he normally tries to study early for tests, but sometimes other things get in the way.
“Sometimes I don’t have the time or want to do it, like if a big game comes up,” Spivey said.