High school freshman: Learn how to ace your first midterm exams

The initial round of high school midterms can often be a big change from 8th grade exams. Studying for these tests can also come with different challenges than they did in middle school or junior high. To help your child succeed academically, it is important to instill healthy study habits. Students generally want to earn good grades, but sometimes they can be unsure of the new processes of studying for their first big high school exam.

Here are some exam tips to help your student retain information and practice good study habits.


Do

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  • study 10-15 minutes a day
  • increase study time a week before exams
  • help your child study
  • set aside a study area
Don't

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  • be afraid to look over previous tests
  • forget to make study time fun
  • forget to review both orally and in written form
  • forget to drink enough water

[publishpress_authors_data]'s recommendation to ExpertBeacon readers: Do

Do study 10-15 minutes a day

High school students generally benefit from preparing a few minutes a day, several weeks prior to exam week. Students who relearn and review core learning concepts daily for ten to fifteen minutes typically retain and recall the information more consistently. Get in the habit of studying each day for just a few minutes to help keep the material fresh in your child’s mind. This also helps to remember key components of lectures and study materials.

Do increase study time a week before exams

The week before the exams, high-school students should increase their review time for each class by twenty minutes or more. Parents may need to remind their teenager that the additional review time can help transform their scholastic future, raise their GPAs and class rank. However, they should also be careful not to cause their son or daughter undue anxiety or stress when nicely discussing their study plan.

Do help your child study

As a parent, you can help assist your teenager by discussing a workable exam study, and review plans to follow the week before and the week of the exams. You also don’t have to sit idly by while they study alone. Quiz them on certain sections of their book in an informal setting. A few questions a day can help your child learn while not putting too much pressure on them to succeed.

Do set aside a study area

A study area within the home should be set aside for the student to use as their review station. A crate of study supplies, including needed items such as highlighters and a small white board can be great time savers. Teenagers typically are more focused when they have an organized study area to do their homework.


[publishpress_authors_data]'s professional advice to ExpertBeacon readers: Don't

Do not be afraid to look over previous tests

Students who are unsure of what to study should look over previous test and quiz questions as well as their outlines and review sheets. As soon as a study guide is given, the teenager should begin reviewing all the information on the guides so that they can know what to expect when taking notes and reviewing for a big test.

Do not forget to make study time fun

Teenagers generally benefit from making flash card review games to help bring some fun into their review time. Parents may want to host a small study group with several of their teen’s friends. This can improve the students’ retention, and help fill in each other’s learning gaps. In addition, study groups can bring a much-needed element of fun to the learning sessions.

Do not forget to review both orally and in written form

Numerous teenagers find they can retain and recall more of the core information while taking the exams if they have reviewed the information both orally and in a written form. Reviewing the information in different ways helps your brain to better retain it. On top of that, people have different learning styles that include verbally, visually, and and physically (which is why flash cards can often be great learning aids).

Do not forget to drink enough water

When preparing for exams or taking tests, students benefit from drinking water. While it sounds trivial, research suggests a well hydrated brain can function at a more optimum level.


Summary

Ninth graders who will be taking high school level exams can benefit from employing test taking solutions to help them improve their scores. Countless students have been able to add one or more letter grades to their scores by preparing early and utilizing test-taking strategies. Ninth graders can learn how to become better test takers and increase their GPAs and class rank.

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