You can successfully prepare for exams even when time is short
No problem! Those who want to tackle this task can use life hacks that German students share on internet forums. Deutsche Welle has compiled practical tips.
Work according to a plan and don't cram!
It's important to plan your exam preparation. And remember: the most productive stage is the second stage of preparation, because in the first you're just getting into it, warming up, and in the third you'll be tired and unable to concentrate properly. So if you only have three days left, schedule the bulk of the work for the second day.
On the first day, just skim through your lecture notes to refresh your knowledge. On the second day, tackle the same questions but in more depth – using a textbook to study the details. And devote the third day entirely to reviewing the material you've covered.
Resort to plain cramming only as a last resort, since this method is extremely ineffective. The key to good memorization is intellectual work with the material. Try to get to the very essence of the topic and use the keyword method. For example, to remember some information, it's enough to highlight and remember one or two keywords. Recalling them will immediately bring the rest to mind.
The so-called alphabetical memorization method is effective here, where you "assign" a certain image, object, or concept to each letter of the alphabet. For instance, the letter "E" – Einstein – and, following the logical chain, the theory of relativity comes to mind. The letter "B" – book – and from it, a book fair, publishing house, and so on.
Focus on the main points!
You want to delve deep into the material? Great! But you can do that later – after the session, but now you're short on time. So for now, concentrate on the main points. And the power of your imagination will help a lot here.
The principle is this: based on the material you're learning, mentally build a kind of building. Assign the role of foundation to basic information. The most important aspects will become supporting columns, and the most significant details will go into building the roof. Creating such a chain of associations is the key to understanding the essence of the material and successfully remembering it.
Also, make cue cards based on your lecture notes! On one side of the card, write a brief topic name, a concept, or a question, and on the other side, provide the "explanation." When everything is ready, pick a card, read the question on it, and give your answer. Then flip the card and check the correctness of what you've said.
You'll absorb the material well already during the process of writing the cards, since you'll have to thoroughly think through and process it to fit it on a small piece of paper.
The 80/20 rule
Incidentally, there is an interesting phenomenon – the empirical 80/20 rule, or Pareto's law. It is named after the Italian economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto. In a recent interview with Spiegel Online, a graduate of a German gymnasium, Tobias Brandt, draws attention to it. According to the applicant, it was precisely by following Pareto's law that he, a previously negligent high school student, managed to pass his final exams with flying colors. And Tobias believes that every student should know this law. So what's the gist?
According to this rule, only 20 percent of our actions yield as much as 80 percent of the desired result, while the remaining 80 percent of efforts yield only 20 percent of the result. Vilfredo Pareto pondered this pattern back in the late 19th century. And indeed: why is it that for one dream you don't seem to put in much effort, but it suddenly comes true completely, while for another goal you bend over backwards, yet only get one step closer?
To avoid banging your head against a closed door, Tobias Brandt advises setting priorities correctly and choosing the most important goals that can be achieved with minimal effort. For example, instead of reading a long but non-priority assigned text about the formation of the Weimar Republic, he watched a short educational video on the topic on YouTube, which covered the subject concisely. According to Tobias, that was enough – especially since he has good visual memory. But he prepared thoroughly for exams in math and physics: deep knowledge is indispensable there.
So, most of our efforts are wasted, only slightly helping to achieve the goal? And to get a good grade, it's not necessary to study everything from cover to cover? Quite possibly. But the main thing is to correctly identify and focus on the 20 percent that will lead to 80 percent of the result.