Studying Help

**Twinkle** · 02-04-2008, 01:27 PM

I'm in my mid-40s, and haven't been to school in almost 20 years. I am taking night school courses to further my career by taking Legal Administration Assistant. I find I cannot concentrate and remember things for tests/exams. I was a fairly good student when I was younger

Any helpful tips would be appreciated.

**Didi** · 02-04-2008, 03:19 PM

Is that during the exam or while preparing?

If during the exam: select the questions you do know an answer to first and for the other questions, if there is something that you, even vaguely, remember write down some keywords so that your brain can think about it while you do the questions you do know.

While preparing: I used to make abstracts all the time. Important dates, definitions etc. For some reason I would always get very confused if I looked at the material on the day of the exam, so after I learned that about myself I would stop the evening before the exam and try to relax.

Good luck!

**shoiji** · 02-04-2008, 03:21 PM

Make sure you are in a quiet room. Also try some type of rhyming of something fun to help remember things.

Just keep working at it. Do understand the whole my brain doesn't work the way it used to.

**StaceyS** · 02-04-2008, 03:26 PM

I went back to school later in life as well. I took a class called College Preparation (or something like that). The best tip I used was making index cards with the important info on them. They said even if you never look at them again, just the act of creating the cards stores it in your brain. I used this a lot. My law teacher was amazed at all the things I could remember that the "kids" couldn't.

Good Luck!

**HisDaisy** · 02-04-2008, 04:20 PM

I would recommend taking notes over what you are reading or studying. I found that I needed to write things down, not just read them. I also found that reading things out loud helped. That way I got to see, hear, and write the material. I also recommend note cards or a notebook that I could out line key concepts in.
Another tip is to have a designated place and time to study and take lots of breaks. I also find that for me I need some sort of background noise. So I will often play classical music or have the radio on.
Another thing is do not be afraid to ask the professor or a TA for help. That is what they are there for. (When I was teaching, I rather the student ask for help or assistance than struggle.)
Good luck and keep at it, you will do fine.

**Edna_E** · 02-04-2008, 05:09 PM

There are actually different parts of your brain that are stimulated by reading, hearing, and 'do-ing' (which writing works for), so you want to try to stimulate all of them. That means that reading out loud stimulates more of your memory than reading silently, and taking notes works well on both lectures and books. Also, assuming that time is an issue for you, make your own 'flash cards' of stuff to remember from each class and from each chapter of the book. Tuck them in your purse or pocket, and whip them out and go through a few when you are waiting (in line, at a stop light, to pick up your kids, for church to start, whatever). Most people waste those little bits of time, but they all add up if you can learn to use them.

**getnrichslowly** · 02-04-2008, 08:02 PM

I went back to school later and some things that helped me were taking lots of little breaks. I would read for 20 minutes, and then change the laundry, then read another 20. I felt more focused if it was for little breaks of time. I also agree with the notecards and taking notes on what you are reading.

Good luck! It will be worth it!

**YankeeMom** · 02-04-2008, 08:11 PM

I take notes while I'm reading the chapters. I keep them w/ my notes from class. I make note of important terms and concepts highlighted in the text. Then when it comes time to study for the test, I re-write everything. For me, the act of actually writing everything out helps to jog my memory & keep it fresh in my head.

If I try to just read the chapter, my mind wanders while I read and I don't get anything absorbed in my brain. Same with notes, if I just re-read my notes, I don't get nearly as much of the material absorbed as I do when I re-write them.

**Twinkle** · 02-04-2008, 08:26 PM

Thank you all your wonderful suggestions/tips - now I feel like I can tackle studying for tests/exams with a better understanding of how to

**changed4life** · 02-04-2008, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Twinkle

I'm in my mid-40s, and haven't been to school in almost 20 years. I am taking night school courses to further my career by taking Legal Administration Assistant. I find I cannot concentrate and remember things for tests/exams. I was a fairly good student when I was younger

Any helpful tips would be appreciated.

Twinkle,
You just wrote about my problem! I'm in my mid-forties too, and
I just started a psychology college course (dry and borrrrring!!) and I was just complaining to my husband today while studying for my test.

I can't remember the definitions of any of the terms. I agree, it is frustrating. I can only hope it won't last too long. I'm afraid I'll fail all the tests.

I know what everything means and it makes sense, it's just that I am not able to articulate in into words if the teacher were to ask me.

Grrrrr.

**KJayEsq** · 02-04-2008, 09:19 PM

I'm an attorney and studied for all of my exams by making flash cards. They're great because you can take them with you and study anywhere when you find yourself with some down time.

Good luck!!

**cottageliving** · 02-04-2008, 09:44 PM

I went back to school in my 30's. Here are a few things that worked for me - some have already been mentioned by other posters as well.

1: I would hold my book standing up and read out loud. This kept me alert and I not only saw the words, but spoke and heard them. Really helped.

2: Take notes while reading the textbooks, then compare with lecture notes.

3: Re-write notes on topics you are struggling with, then read them out loud.

4: Study groups. If there is any way you can have a study group for some courses. You can meet on campus, or at your home, or another student's home. This was invaluable.

I wish you the best. (I'm starting school in March to finally get my degree and am now in my late 40s so can relate.)

**sumdumsurfer** · 02-05-2008, 02:10 AM

You need a really patient spouse/partner/friend for this one...

I've found that if I could explain the concept in English to someone else (and start to teach them), then I had mastered the material.

It forced me to have a working knowledge of the subject.

*Warning*

Some people get easily annoyed by this!

**lisettelovebug** · 02-05-2008, 11:13 AM

I used to have a 30 minute drive to school, so what I would do is speak my notes into a recorder. Then on the drive to and from I would listen to them. I also used to tape lectures (some profs don't like you to do this, but most are fine w/it - just ask) and listen to them in the car. I felt like I was making the best use of my time.

**Libby** · 02-05-2008, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

I take notes while I'm reading the chapters. I keep them w/ my notes from class. I make note of important terms and concepts highlighted in the text. Then when it comes time to study for the test, I re-write everything. For me, the act of actually writing everything out helps to jog my memory & keep it fresh in my head.

If I try to just read the chapter, my mind wanders while I read and I don't get anything absorbed in my brain. Same with notes, if I just re-read my notes, I don't get nearly as much of the material absorbed as I do when I re-write them.

This was exactly my method when I was in school. I tried to go back last year after having not gone for 10 yrs and wow - it was WAY more complicated then I remembered PLUS I think I picked the worst time of my life to try again. I am going to aim for the May - June internet course again and knowing this now - I will clear my schedule to prep for it.

Re-writing notes, important facts etc forces you to focus what you are re-writing and repeating it out loud as you write also makes it stick. I used to re-write my history notes all the time b/c the teacher went so fast. But he said I had great marks b/c of this - b/c all the willy nilly crap he threw in, I remembered b/c I must've written them down initally LOL

Other tips - always schedule time to study and do homework. "After dinner" OR "After dinner dishes are done" is not a time. Set an appointment with yourself therefore you MUST do it and there are no excuses b/c you wouldnt normally double book yourself. Always study on a full stomach - not overstuffed but after you've eaten something so you arent distracted by hunger pangs. Almonds are great snacks when studying! Something to do with memory retention? And I think this would apply - study first thing in the am if you can b/c thats is when you are most alert. If it works in the workplace (get things done first thing in am, chat and catch up later) they why not at home?

One last thing - I used to try to review and 'cram' the day of the test/exam. I found that I only confused myself more and would start using the commute time to relax, listen to music or even read a few pages of a novel - to get myself all relaxed and not in a panic so when the test started my mind just switched over to the subject.

Good Luck!