Like any other exams, writing psychology exams can be highly stressful. The whole path from the preparation phase to the main exam entails a lot of work and dedication. In fact, there isn’t any shortcut to being successful in psychology exams. That notwithstanding, you can make it as easier as possible.
You need adequate preparation to excel in an exam psychology exam. The preparation bit really matters because that would define your success. You, therefore, need to start it early to give you enough time to study at your own pace. Below are some tried and tested ways to study for psychology exams.
Be an early bird
As already stated, preparing early for exams give you enough time to study. Don’t be a last-minute student who waits until few days to the exam before studying. You need to start learning immediately after you receive your study materials for the commencement of a course. Have a study schedule and go strictly by it. You can start with one-hour private study a day and gradually increases it when as course load increases. Always pay special attention to areas you fall short.
Learn before every class
Most lecturers on a normal day will inform students of the topic for the next class. If you get such an opportunity, go through the topic in the evening before the next class. Doing this gives you prior knowledge on the topic, which helps you to make a meaningful contribution in class. If you are also assigned any page readings for the next class, go over it about three times and take notes as you read. Don’t hesitate to make contributions or ask questions where you fall short.
Be attentive and focus driven
Lecture time is strictly for knowledge acquisition and nothing else. That is not the time to be fidgeting with your phone, playing games, or having a conversation with other students. Pay utmost attention, be focused, and be an active listener throughout your psychology lectures. While doing this, take notes of important points and ideas stated by the lecturer for later perusal. Also, you should pay extreme attention to whatever a lecturer writes on the board because they are mostly important.
Review course material and notes
After each psychology class, create your own notes from the points you made. This will serve as reading materials including other course materials and textbooks. Another advantage of creating a note is that it promotes information retention. If you don’t understand anything, you can ask in the next class.
Join a Study Group
Learning psychology in groups is a perfect way to stay active and focus while acquiring knowledge from friends. It presents a fine opportunity to learn from each other and solve problems together. When you fall short in a topic area, you can submit the problem for group discussion and solution. Note that the group shouldn’t be large in numbers. At most, it should be a five-member group. Also, every member should be committed and at least have one area of expertise.
Test yourself
The only way to know how well you’ve learned is through a test. Before your main psychology exams, set yourself some questions and solve them as a way of practice. Alternatively, you can try solving some past exam questions relating to the topic you studied or check the internet.
Make use of available resources
In times of learning difficulties or when you find trouble understanding the concept of a topic, explore further for understanding. You can use the school’s library for further research or check through reliable internet sources. Some universities have resource facilities where you can find help. If necessary, consult your lecturer for clarification.