I never really knew what active studying meant until my General Biology professor taught me. There's a big difference between simply re-reading your notes and actively studying and retaining your notes. The best way that I actively study to remember the material from my classes is by flashcards. Flashcards promote the long-term memory region in our brains and further, help on tests to recall that information. Personally, I use Quizlet for flashcard studying, but there a number of ways that flashcards can be used, whether it's physical paper flashcards or other apps or websites.

Another technique for active studying that I use is teaching someone else (or pretending to teach someone else). A lot of times, my study schedule doesn't align with being able to teach someone else in person. So, I pretend that I teach someone else by using a whiteboard to write down terms and talking out loud about the concepts. I focus a lot on the concepts that I have the most struggle with but I make sure to hit all the concepts that will be on the exam. However, it's better to teach an actual person, especially one that is in the same class, because they can help make sure that you are understanding the material. If they understand the material from you teaching it to them, then you have succeeded in understanding and are more ready for the exam.

The best advice that I have received and will always give is to take breaks while studying. Our brains can only handle so much information at a time before we start tuning out and stop retaining the information we are studying. Taking breaks helps us to retain more information, relieves stress by letting our minds focus on something else, and allows for more rest.

When I study, I usually allot one hour for studying one subject before I take a break or move on to a new subject. I make sure to focus for the entirety of the whole hour, using active studying techniques, otherwise I will not take a break or move on. Studying for the whole hour is the perfect time for me to retain information without getting exhausted or feeling like it's too much information at one time. This "perfect time" will vary amongst individuals, but as a tutor, I help find that time as it can be difficult to find it ourselves.

The night before my exams, I make sure to get at least 8-9 hours of restful sleep. This ensures proper rest for my brain, which further helps me to properly recall information during the exam. Getting adequate sleep also promotes our long-term and short-term memory. Moreover, the key word here is restful. Because of my test anxiety, I have restless nights or nights where I feel like I didn't get enough sleep even though my body has slept for 8 hours. The way that I get restful beauty sleep is by taking sleep gummies that are infused with melatonin and collagen. But there are other ways to get restful sleep, including working out right before bed, drinking an 8 oz glass of water, and not being in front of a screen at least 2 hours before bed.

All three of these tips have helped me to score better on my tests and calm my test anxiety. I hope they help you too, and as a tutor, I will make sure to implement these tips into my tutor teaching curriculum!