14. Practice in the same format you will be tested in.

What this means is that you shouldn’t study for all of your exams the same way. Say you’re studying for a history exam, and you study by making flashcards with key terms and events. This study format would be effective if your test is in a multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank format. But if the exam actually consists of short-answer and essay questions that require you to answer “Why?” or “How?” you will find yourself in trouble.

15. According to the professors from the site writemypaper4me, it is better not review what you already know.

Doing problems that you can comfortably solve may boost your self-confidence a little, but try not to focus your efforts on material you’ve already mastered. If you only review what you know, you will run out of time before you grasp the more challenging material.

16. Understand; don’t memorize.

“Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day, but teach a man to fish, and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.” Memorizing a concept or definition without understanding what it actually means, or how it works, will backfire on you as soon as you come across information that’s not presented exactly the way you’re used to seeing it. To get a better grasp on the material, try explaining important concepts and topics to others. Try to keep in mind the most important English grammar rules.

17. Turn your readings upside down.

Whenever you think cramming is inevitable, turn your readings upside down. After all, memorizing complete sentences is an inefficient way of studying. This way, you’ll need to really concentrate while reading, and you’ll memorize everything you need more quickly. It’s at least 50% more effective than simply repeating something to yourself without paying much attention.

18. Ask professors or upperclassmen for sample exams and old test questions.

Going through an older version of your upcoming exam can help you determine the most important topics to focus on. It will boost your confidence and calm your nerves, since you now know what you’re in for.

19. Don’t pull all-nighters.

During finals week, you may feel that one or two sleepless nights spent on studying can save you. They won’t. Kick this idea to the curb. Staying up all night may make you feel productive, but it rarely brings actual results. Getting a regular amount of sleep is much more effective than pulling an all-nighter while you struggle to keep your eyes open and squeeze new information into your exhausted brain. Get some sleep to refresh your brain, instead!

20. Avoid starving yourself or stress eating.

Being preoccupied with your course books, you may totally forget about such a down-to-earth trifle as food. Though it’s certainly possible for people to last several days without food, finals week is not the time for experimentation. At the other extreme, you should also avoid using stress as an excuse for treating yourself to junk food or too many sweets. They may temporarily satisfy your taste buds, but they’ll only make you feel more sluggish and unproductive. Long study sessions and the general stress of exams put a lot of pressure on your body, so it’s important to supply your body with the right energy-rich nutrients. Glucose, zinc, and vitamins C, E, and K all boost your mental activity, while foods rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, such as salmon, flaxseed, and walnuts have been proven to increase concentration and decrease anxiety levels.

21. Drink more water than caffeine-filled beverages.

If the stress from finals doesn’t do the job, drinking liters and liters of coffee and energy drinks will surely do you in. It’s true that studies have shown that caffeine can boost your short-term and long-term memory. And coffee even helps your body combat the negative effects of sleep deprivation. But drinking too much of it can be really detrimental. Know your coffee limit, and instead drink more water. Studies say that as many as 75% of all people are in a perpetual state of dehydration. Drinking at least 8 glasses, or one large bottle, of water each day will keep you hydrated and increase your brain’s capacity to process information.

22. Drink hot chocolate.

Sure, pure water is your best friend while studying for final exams. Make sure you have at least one glass of water during each of your short study sessions. But if you feel like you want something a little more exciting, consider hot chocolate. Besides being delicious, cocoa improves blood flow to the brain.

23. Train your abs.

Speaking of blood flow, physical activity is often overlooked as a way to boost productivity. But it can do wonders. Even if you don’t regularly work out, now is a great time to start. We don’t mean going to the gym. And there’s no need to make yourself sweat blood. Doing ten-minute ab exercises during your study breaks can work miracles. You will feel less sleepy and stressed as your brain gets a boost of oxygen and starts to work more effectively.

24. Gamify your studying.

This is an especially useful tip if you are very competitive. Increase your productivity by betting on how fast you’ll finish a particular chapter or by competing with a classmate or friend over who will finish a practice sheet first. This is guaranteed to keep you motivated and will speed up your study process because you’ll have an extra incentive to put 100% of your effort into it. Just be sure not to sacrifice the quality for speed.

25. If you need help with concepts, turn to the internet.

KhanAcademy.org is an excellent place to find math tutorials, as well as tutorials for 15 other subjects including arts and humanities, science, economics and finance, and computing. YouTube might be 80% funny cat videos, but there are also dozens of educational channels that you will find very helpful. Search YouTube for related lectures or presentations, and you’ll definitely find some gems there. You may even find your professor’s lectures or YouTube channel. We also highly recommend Crash Course if you need help with any of these subjects: Physics, Literature, Biology, Philosophy, Chemistry, Psychology, Ecology, World History, Astronomy, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Anatomy & Physiology, Big History, Economics, and Intellectual Property.