When I study for a test, I tend to start to study a week ahead of time. This gives me enough time to study all the material that is going to be on the test. This also allots time incase I have any questions about something I am confused about, it allows me to get the answer and grasp that concept before the exam. Yet this isn’t always as easy as it seems.
Sometimes I don’t get the chance to study every day of that week because I have a bad habit of being lazy. I have busy days and I get down to the end of them and get into the “ill do more tomorrow” mood. Yet this is a snowball effect and I don’t do more the next day. I do tend to fall into the typical college student image of cramming the night before. This isn’t my best trait, but what’s even worse is I have this “if I don’t know it by midnight then I don’t know it” mentality as well. But don’t get me wrong, I do study and I do put the time in that is needed.
I always get nervous for the first exams of the semester for the classes I am taking. I fear the unknown. so not knowing the style of the test makes me more nervous. For this first exam I first went over all of the power points that he displayed in class. I then went and compared them to my notes from the text book reading on those same chapters. I also went over the study guide that was given to us and used that also to review and compare my notes with.
Some things I would probably do different for next exam is to ask more questions about concepts I get confused about. For instance, I didn’t grasp some of the conditioning concepts and I tried to work it through myself, but you can only do so much without asking for help.
AlexisPattersonBlog 
Hi Alexis!
Beginning study for an exam allows for a couple helpful memory concepts to take action. First, starting a week or so ahead of the exam gives time to relearn the material. The first time you learn the material may be when you read the textbook, and then you relearn it again in class, and then relearn it another time when you are going over your notes to study. This relearning leads to quicker absorption of the material because you are exposing yourself to it more than once. Another advantage of beginning to study early is the spacing effect, which is when distributing work or studying over a period of time produces better performance and retention than when studying is completed in entirety the night before, or cramming.
If you have any questions you do not wish to ask in class or during Dr. MacFarlane’s office hours, please feel free to email me at eastere@etown.edu!!
Great reflection on the advantages and disadvantages of your study habits!
Emily
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