Study Tips for the Earth Science Regents
To improve your earth science test taking skills you must begin with working on your mindset. To start, consider your study through the year as preparation for the final exam. Most students fail because they can't make the connection between their daily homework, assignments and final exam due to the long period of the study course.
Shift your perspective, and view all your earth science work during the school year, semester, or summer as studying for the exam. The best way to get higher grades is to view your studying as small milestones leading to the final exam as the biggest goal.
The following test-taking skills tips will greatly increase the rewards of your earth science work. These strategies will help you improve your earth science studying skills, use the best tools for studying and keep your motivation throughout the year. If you apply them you'll master science and ensure regents exam success.
Keep the big picture in front of you
Review earth science from start to finish. Identify the hardest parts that will require more attention. Understanding the course overview will also aid you to understand its main subjects, and how they are scored. Once you've made up your mind, put your plan on paper.
This plan will help motivate you and cement your intention to get higher marks. It’s easy when you know what you want, and how you’ll get it. Make it as detailed (and realistic) as possible.
Learn to manage your time
Time management is a wonderful tool you can use to dominate your study workload, get more done, and reduce stress. It's the best way to get time on your side, instead of time slipping through your fingers.
If you can control your time, you've won half the battle. Use a study planner so you can review your studying time on weekly and monthly basis. You can also use your study planner to keep track of assignment due dates, observe important quiz/test dates, and manage your studying time better.
Or keep a daily study journal to know how you spend your time studying. It will provide helpful insight you can use to better allocate your time for more fruitful study time. Try journaling your other activities throughout the day so you can learn about the time-consuming habits to cut them out and replace them with positive habits that enforce your goal to get higher grades. On a deeper level, managing your time will help you control the time you spend with your friends and other social commitments you have during exam times.
Thus, you can focus on your study without losing your mind over other responsibilities you have. Instead of making social commitments around your study time, make study time the priority and schedule your other activities around it. Make it your job to get higher grades.
Know your learning style
Your learning style is a crucial element in your earth science test-taking strategy. Learning styles are based on your five senses, and how you best learn new information. You are either a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner. Each type has a learning mode that is most rewarding. Take this assessment by educationplaner.org to identify your learning style.
Combined with your time management skills, your learning style will help you study smart, not hard. Your learning style is unique to you, so don't try to copy other successful students’ styles! Furthermore, tailoring your study method based on your learning style will certainly lead to better academic performance.
Keep the small picture in front of you
Your earth science regents exam success will rest on balancing between your big goal, and the details that will lead to it. The small details include allocating enough time for each topic. Assess the amount of time you'll need to dedicate to your study outside the class. Always keep a step ahead with a detailed study schedule. At least, strive to keep up with the class.
Take and organize notes
Use apps like Evernote to take earth science notes. Notes are most useful while you're studying, they contain nuggets of information that will help fill in the gaps when you lose concentration. By taking notes you keep your mind engaged during the lecture, and later, it'll be helpful when you're studying from the textbooks. Feel free to explore other note-taking techniques that will work for you.
Concentrate when you study
Concertation is the secret. One hour of concentration while studying is better than 10 hours of distracted study. Top performers around the world in every field are those who are single-minded, focusing on a single task for a given amount of time. If you take one tip from this article, make it the secret of concentration. This alone will get you ahead of 97% of other students. Magically, you’ll achieve better results in less time. So, turn off your mobile notifications and all the other tabs, and concentrate on one task at a time.
Quiz yourself
You can dig up previous exams from past years, or find exams you can solve, it’ll be great. This will not only help you prepare for the real exam, but it will also teach you what to expect. You’d learn about the questions, the style, and the format of the exam. Solving past exams will enhance your academic confidence. And the more you solve them, the less the real exam will intimidate you.
Always remember that the difference between an A+ earth science student and the F student is in the preparation. As inventor Alexander Graham Bell once said: Before anything else, preparation is the key to success. So, before you go to an exam, make sure you’re prepared.
Now, you are ready. Good luck!
