The Voice

Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: WCC News

Media Credit: Illustration by Kelly Kinser

Who doesn't dread the tense feeling of treading into a classroom for a final exam?

Your palms turn sweaty and mouth becomes dry as you scan the test and realize just how unprepared you are. Words wash into paper, blur into oblivion as you pick up the #2 pencil. But wait, it's a pen and now you're
really screwed.

Of course, finals will never be fun. But at Washtenaw Community College, the Academic
Skills Department offers tips and tricks for managing finals that might just keep you seeing straight.

Five study tips

Academic Skills Department Chair Elizabeth Warner certainly doesn't advocate cramming.

"Can I give students a fast, easy way to cram for an exam if they haven't studied all semester?" Warner said. "No bloody way."

But she offers steadfast techniques to make study time you do have more efficient.

1. Classical music

Turn on the iPod or Imeem - just make sure it's classical. Classical music is a learning-aid because it "fires the brain," helping students study and remember more
effectively, Warner said. And it has to be classical. The lyric-free songs and structured beats-per-minute don't distract the way Def Leppard or even jazz would.

"Beethoven's good, and Mozart." Warner said. "I play a CD of Mozart's overtures in class while students are studying."

2. Move yourself

If you get burned-out when studying, move around for a few minutes, Warner recommends.

"Movement will re-focus you and cause the whole brain to fire," she said. "The more modalities of the brain you can involve the better."

3. SQ4R

For effective studying, Warner teaches the SQ4R method.

The "S" stands for survey: Quickly look over the text or notes. Notice what's in bold or italics, and pay attention to subheads and pictures.

The "Q" means question. Develop questions based on the survey, or if you have a study guide from your instructor, look it over. Most textbooks also have chapter questions. Then the first "R"- read. But only read to answer the questions.

"You don't read everything - that's impossible, especially if you are preparing for a final exam," Warner said.

While reading, start the second "R" - write down the answers as you find them. Then recite the answer, the third "R."

"Use all of you modalities," Warner said. "If you leave out the saying, you miss the hearing."

Lastly, the fourth "R": Review both the questions and answers.

4. Highlight

Definitely highlight during the survey of the first SQ4R. But there's a technique behind highlighting too.

"Some new students highlight everything in the chapter, which defeats the purpose because they can't go back and re-read the whole chapter," Warner said.

What to highlight? Start with anything in italics or bold print. And if a text is completely plain, highlight the first line of every paragraph or the first line of every third paragraph for long articles.

5. Speed Read

Speed reading is a skill that will always make studying more effective. But it's not an inate skill - you can learn it.

The first step is to survey. "All speed
readers survey," Warner said.

Once you survey, draw a line down the center of the page. Then tap your finger on the left then right columns, moving down the page at a consistent pace - and make your eyes follow.

"Your eyes begin to pick up the information, without even being consciously aware of it," she said. "Just go through the motions and you'll pick up the information."

The goal is to speed up the finger-tapping pace until the movement resembles the "Z-pattern," and, eventually, the "S-swirl."

"At that point we don't even call it speed reading, we call it information processing," Warner said.

Five test-taking tips

Even well-prepared students can struggle with college-level testing "simply because they aren't test wise," Warner said.

But don't despair. You don't have to try and fail to get test wisdom.

1. Set a time frame

After you take your seat for finals, note how much time you have to complete the test, and survey the questions, evaluating how much each section is worth, Warner said. Then break it down: Determine how much time to spend on each section based on how many points it is worth.

2. Notice the vocabulary

On a multiple-choice or true-false test, real test wise-ness comes from paying close attention to the vocabulary, Warner said. Look closely at the question's qualifiers - words such as "always," and "usually." And before answering the question, make sure you know the meaning of every noun, verb and adjective.

3. Skip questions you don't know

On an objective test, answer questions you know first, and then move on.

"Don't struggle over ones you don't know," Warner said. "You can come back to those."

Many times, questions on the rest of the test will have enough information to bring the previous answer to mind.

4. Organize

For an in-class essay, don't overlook the power of organization. Begin with an introduction outlining a numbered format for various paragraph topics. Then, begin each paragraph with a phrase such as "First of all," "Secondly," or "Third."

"That always makes you look as if you are very prepared," Warner said. "And even if you aren't organized, use it anyway because it sounds organized."

5. Stay positive

It is extremely important to stay positive during finals week, Warner said.

"You can't take the psychology out of anything, and the psychology is to give yourself positive affirmations all the time," she said.

But go beyond just telling yourself, "I am going to do well on this test" - visualize yourself doing well.

"Visualize yourself walking into the class, sitting down with the test and knowing it," Warner said. "Visualize yourself being very calm - - visualization is huge.

"If you program yourself for success, you'll be successful."


FINALS RELIEF STATION

WHERE Richard W. Bailey Library, Gunder Myran 1st floor

WHEN Monday, April 27 - Thursday, April 30, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

WHAT Coffee, tea & snacks

ALSO Free chair massages in the GM lobby Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. - 2p.m.

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