Homeschool High School: How to Prepare for Exams

February 26, 2021
Written by:
Guest Author
College Prep, Homeschool High School

Guest post by Heidi Rosenberg

When you are a student, exams are part and parcel of your academic life, especially as a high school homeschooler! Exams can be stressful and can mount a lot of pressure on you when you do not prepare. Most people will tell you that time management and completing your curriculum are the main things that you should do in preparation for the examination. However, you need to combine a lot of tactics to excel in the homeschool tests or placement tests that you will be taking. Here are 7 efficient ways on how you can better prepare for your exams:

Refrain from cramming

Cramming is when you attempt to study at the second often by memorizing content within the shortest time possible. While this might seem effective, it is not advisable. When preparing for exams, it is better if you put in hours about 90 minutes per day for a week leading to the exam to read. You can make use of time management tools such as Trello, To-do list apps, Coach.me., and Quizlet to help you prepare for your exams.  These tools will are great resources to help prepare for testing.

Do a mock exam

You should ensure that you complete practice tests before seating for the main exam. These tests will help you assess your understanding of the content being examined. It also helps you reduce any anxiety that you may have and enhance your mental stamina. But how do you do this? You can find numerous questions on the subject matter online and in various textbooks. Having identified these quizzes, you should set time to answer them without referring to your notes. On average, you need to do 3 to 4 mock tests for you to be ready for your exams.

Join a study group

Ever heard of the saying “two heads are better than one?” Well, it works perfectly when you are preparing for exams. Group studying will help you fill in the gaps of things that you might have missed in class, refine your understanding, commit to studying, and learn from colleagues. However, you will only benefit from joining a study group if:

  • Have group meetings when you are prepared
  • Stay focused during discussions
  • Set a specified time for the meeting to avoid veering off

Check your notes daily

When it comes to reading your notes, you should highlight keywords and make summaries of the content where necessary. You should also use graphs, idea maps, charts, questions, and discussion points when reading to help you remember. This method works best if you took the time to organize your notes after your homeschool classes when the content is still fresh in your mind.

Get enough sleep

Sleep deprivation can affect your productivity significantly. It is only during sleeping that you can synthesize the information that you have been reading about. You get at least eight hours of sleep before your exams so that you are fresh when you wake up. Getting sufficient sleep also helps you jog your memory with ease during an examination.

Avoid multitasking when studying

When you have set aside time to read for exams, you should adhere to the planned schedule. But, what does this mean? You should leave your hostel, avoid social media, turn off auditory and visual devices, and refrain from watching music that has lyrics. Performing these activities will help you ward off all distractions so that you focus on the main task at hand.

Be attentive during class time

When in class whether online, tutor, or at a co-op, you should keep your ears open at all times. At times, your teacher may mention sections that will be covered during the examination or provide you with a strategy to read for your exams. This means that you have to be attentive every time there is a session so that you do not miss out on anything. Often, it is during these class sessions that you have an opportunity to ask questions that you need clarity on.

Conclusion

While you may dread exams, preparing for them is not rocket science! It takes commitment and working smart for you to prepare adequately. You can use a few or all of these tips to get ready for your next exams with ease. So, make use of them to pass!

This article was contributed by Heidi Rosenberg.

 

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