Behind the Ivy - Summer 2018

ACADEMICS

E X A M S U R V I V A L G U I D E

EMMA GURNEY

an hour, I promise you will wake up refreshed and focused. This approach is actually backed by a lot of research and was first introduced to me by Dr. Greg Wells. Due to the way our sleep cycles function, if used right, a 20 minute nap can be as productive as a five- hour one. Dr. Wells refers to phenomenon this as the “20 minute power nap”, and I would highly recommend this strategy if you are pressed for time! These are just a few things I like to do when I study, but this list is by no means exhaustive. When creating your study plan, you should play around with what works best for you, and hopefully find a happy medium. If you’re looking for more tips, I strongly suggest checking out Elisa Shi’s article on the effects of a positive mindset when approaching an exam. I hope this article helped ease your nerves for the upcoming exam season, and good luck!

As exam season fast approaches, you might find yourself swamped trying to juggle cumulative projects, impromptu tests, and studying. If you’re like me, you’ve probably filled up your plate a little too much, and are just now realizing that you might have overdone it with your course load and extracurriculars. This overly-full plate has been my reality for pretty much the entirety of my academic career, and, as a result, I have come up with a few strategies to cope with exam stress. 1. Make a study schedule well in advance… and stick to it! If you’re a procrastinator like me, you know how difficult it is to set aside time to study. To remedy this, I usually create a study schedule towards the end of May. The most important part of your schedule is that it is realistic in regards to your attention span and your extracurriculars. For example, if you know that you’re not someone who can sit down and do math for four hours on a Friday night, don’t put that in your schedule, because odds are, you won’t follow it.

2. Listen to instrumental music. There are studies showing that classical music enhances brain activity, but if you’re not someone who enjoys classical music (like myself) you can reap the same benefits from instrumental music. I recommend checking out Vitamin String Quartet, a string ensemble that records covers of popular music from Sia’s “Chandelier” to Kanye West’s “Gold Digger”. 3. Study outside. Or at least in an area with lots of natural light. Fluorescent indoor lighting can cause headaches, especially when you are trying to concentrate. The fresh air and sunshine provided by the outdoors can stimulate concentration and provide an all around nicer environment. 4. When in doubt, go to bed. And I don’t just mean at night. If, at any time, you find yourself becoming tired while going over a particularly confusing

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part of your notes, put the pen and paper down and take a nap. Even if it’s just

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