How to Cram for a College Test

Things happen. You had to write three papers. Or you had to study for four other tests. Or you had to take extra shifts at work. Or you're a master procrastinator. Whatever the reason, in a day or two (or a few hours if you're really unfortunate) you're facing something that determines a fairly sizeable chunk of your final grade-an exam. To borrow a phrase from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Don't panic.

Even though most test-taking guides suggest studying a week in advance, it is still possible to cram and do well (so long as you paid attention in class and did the readings). These nine tips will help you succeed on your exam.

1. Compile everything you know about the upcoming test.

Obviously you should find out what chapters the test covers. But you should also know what types of questions are on the test as it will determine some of your studying methods. For instance, let's pretend there's a definition section on your exam. Multiple-choice: Just recognizing key components of the term is enough. Fill-in-the-blank: Depending on how sadistic your professor is, these can be brutal (if they're obscure parts of the definition) or very easy (just supplying the term's name). Short answer: Easier since you can BS and still get points, harder because you have to memorize term meanings.

2. If you're fortunate enough that your professor gave you a study guide, use it.

This one is a no-brainer. Make sure you cover everything on your study guide and understand everything (i.e., you're not just memorizing words that don't make sense to you); you should also go back to your textbook and skim any sections dealing with the listed material.

3. Type up all your notes.

OK, this point may sound crazy and time-consuming, but it really isn't-especially if you're a fast typist. It's especially useful if you didn't receive a study guide. By typing up all your notes, you'll ensure that you're actively reading them. Just be sure to read them again (and again) once you print it out. Typing your notes out also makes it easier to skim them before class on test day.

4. Try to intelligently guess exam questions.

Use your past tests and quizzes as a barometer. Does your professor love tricky questions or are the questions fairly straightforward? Does he or she always include questions on definitions? Supreme Court cases? Dates of major battles? If this is your first major test, then it's best to prepare against the worst. This can be frustrating, since you may have to overstudy.

Additionally, if you use multiple books or study multiple authors, always be ready to compare and contrast them-professors love these types of questions. For instance, if you notice one philosopher's viewpoint of the world is almost the exact opposite of another's, be prepared to explain how they differ (and maybe whether they have any similarities).

5. Devise mnemonic devices.

I used mnemonic devices all the time for tests. They are extremely helpful, and you can use it for just about anything. Sometimes, when I would look at terms and their definitions, I would try and see if any letters in the term matched with a key part of the definition (for example, for a word usage test, stationery and paper vs. stationary and standing).

If you're given a study guide, mnemonic devices are easier to create since you know what you need to know (you simply must remember it on test day). For short answers with multiple parts or for essays, I would abbreviate my major points into letters to remember them better. For instance (and this is lifted directly from one of my old study guides), if you're asked:

List four of the factors which influence nations to keep treaties.

And the answers you found were:

1. Increases Security and control.

2. They are shared Values.

3. They are mutually Beneficial.

4. If they violate treaties, they lose Trust from other nations.

Take the most important letter from the most important word or even the whole word if you wish (bolded and capped to illustrate). You have "SVBT." (You can even make up a sentence out of the letters SVBT if it helps.) It's a lot easier to remember these key letters than full sentences. Come test time and you see this question, you can just think, "Hmm. I remember I used SVBT in association with this question. They stand for Security, Values, Beneficial, and Trust. Each one represents one factor." Now see if you can remember the surrounding circumstances of these words. This tip is most handy if you always seem to forget a point in the "List three ways" types of questions.

It may be easier for you to just memorize the answers outright rather than relying on mnemonic devices. Or just reserve them for your trickiest of questions. Do whatever works for you.

6. Be careful with note cards.

Note cards can be a great way to learn terms and concepts. But if you're pressed for time, note cards can consume a lot of time you don't have. So before you break out the markers and tiny squares of paper, ask yourself whether it's worth it. If there's a ton of definitions that will be on the test, then yes, the time invested in making them is well spent. But if you need to know bigger concepts (and only a few definitions), you may not want to waste time crafting note cards.

If you followed point number three, then note cards may be redundant. When you're testing yourself, just take a sheet of paper and cover the notes you're trying to learn for the test.

7. Skim through your textbook.

If you have a study guide, don't waste time rereading unless you're looking for answers for your guide (and doing light reading for background). If you're reading because you haven't read the book, look at how the book is organized. Unless your professor says otherwise, your notes are probably what the test is going to be based on (the professor may include more specific material found only in the textbook). Use your notes and study guide to serve as an anchor for knowing what's worth reading in the textbook.

8. Attend or organize a group study session.

If you have the time, meet with fellow classmates and study together. As long as the group is focused, this session will help you. Sometimes other students may not be as prepared as you, but this can actually help you. If you can explain the subject material to someone who doesn't get it, it will (1) make you think through your own answers and (2) will probably help you remember your answers better.

But if you don't have any or very little studying done, then don't go. You most likely will not benefit since you don't know what your own trouble spots are, and since you are not able to actively contribute, you probably won't remember as much (the discussion may go over your head, or you won't recognize what's significant). Your time is better spent going over points one through eight.

9. Get some sleep.

Ideally, you should get seven or eight hours, but, at the very least, try to get four or five hours. It's better to sacrifice study time rather than forgo sleep. Sleeping helps your brain process information. If you pull an all-nighter before a test, your brain never gets a chance to really absorb all the information you've been putting into it. Just try and budget some time for sleep.