How to Learn in a Day

There are times when you realize you only have one day left to study before a big exam. It could be because you procrastinate or don’t have the time. However, with discipline and focus, you can still succeed in the exam even with only one day left to prepare. While it’s still best to prepare at least a week in advance for the exam, life doesn’t always go as planned, right? This article will give you some tips on how to do your best for the test with just one day of study.

Table of Contents

Create a good environment to learn

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Find somewhere to study. ^{[1] X Research Resources} You should study in a place away from distractions like your bed or friends. A new space will help you fully focus on the task at hand.

Remember to choose a place where you don’t have to move a lot. A quiet room, a library or a coffee shop are ideal options.

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Bring all necessary supplies. Make a list of essential study materials before you leave so you don’t forget anything, which can include textbooks, notebooks, calculators, snacks, sticky notes, highlighters, and anything else you need. .

Don’t bring anything that could distract you.

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Turn off the phone. Unless you need your phone to review, you should turn off your phone while studying. That way you’ll stay focused for longer without interruption, and also reduce your chances of being distracted.

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Decide who you should study with. With limited time like this, it’s probably best to study alone. However, sometimes it is also helpful to study in a small group, as you can compare notes and discuss concepts together. ^{[2] X Research Sources} If you find group study helpful, make sure to choose friends who are at least as good as you, so they won’t slow you down. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Be careful when studying with friends. It will be easy to get distracted if you study with only your close friends. Make sure your study group has a few members you don’t know very well. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Find effective learning methods

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Reread the notes. If you don’t have a notebook, you need to copy a trusted friend’s work. Rereading notes is essential but not sufficient. Review and highlight key words or stick sticky notes to highlight important sections.

Try rewriting summaries of your notes for each chapter or key concepts. ^{[5] X Research Sources} Write a summary in the simplest terms on another sheet of paper. ^{[6] X Research Resources} These summaries will guide you through the day’s review.
When reviewing, you should read the notes out of order. ^{[7] X Research Resources} This will help you understand each piece of information individually rather than as part of a series.

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Read aloud out loud. Read the information aloud while studying. It will be easier for you to remember if your brain is listening while pronouncing it instead of just reading it silently. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Try explaining a chapter or concept to an imaginary student. ^{[9] X Research Source} This requires you to articulate the problem clearly and fully. When you try to explain to others, you will know if you understand the problem or not. You can also do this in groups or with a classmate.

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Use mnemonic tips. It is helpful to use some mnemonic techniques when you have to review a lot of information at the last minute.

The same information that is written over and over again can help the brain remember it. Make sure to jot down a concept or idea at least 3 times for this method to work.
Use reminder tips. Memory tips are methods that help the brain retain information. Create rhymes, abbreviations, and songs that relate to the material you’re studying to help you recall that knowledge.

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Make flashcards. Write terms and their full definitions on a set of flashcards. They will help you test yourself throughout the day. This method is also useful on test day, as you can review it on the bus or in line for lunch. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Use textbooks effectively. Simply rereading a textbook won’t help you retain information, especially when you only have one day to review. You should review the chapter summaries and highlighted keywords as you review, and pay attention to the chapter’s introduction and conclusion, as it often contains essential summary information.

Look at the review questions at the end of the chapter or at the end of the textbook. It’s important to test yourself whenever possible to get a better idea of which sections need review.

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Write a study guide. Review guides are an effective study method to force you to review the entire material. It also comes in handy on test day because you can review it. Make a list of material to review, including key terms, facts, and concepts. Then review and use notepad to fill in each section, typed or handwritten. Recording in your own words will help you imprint it in your brain.

Maybe your classmates also make a review guide, and you will find it hard to resist borrowing your friend when you have so little time left. However, writing your own review guide will force you to write the information in your own words, and transcribing the material will help you remember it.

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Study for the upcoming test. Although time is tight, you also need to make sure to prepare well for the test depending on the type of test. Review the outline or class notes to see how the upcoming test will look. If you are not sure, you need to ask your classmates to make sure you are preparing correctly.

With multiple choice tests, the questions are usually about details and small facts, vocabulary and definitions. There are also questions about the sequence of events and steps. Questions about similarities and differences are also common in multiple-choice tests. You won’t be able to remember every little detail in a short time, so focus on specific areas instead of trying to conquer the whole topic. ^{[11] X Research Source}
For the essay test or short questions, you will have to have a good understanding of broad ideas and topics. Try preparing a few sample questions based on your textbook and review outline. Give yourself 15 minutes and write out a detailed outline for each question as if you were preparing to rewrite a full essay. Make sure to memorize some key terms and examples that you can use to support your essay during the actual test.

Make a study plan

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Know exactly what to learn. ^{[12] X Research Source} Make sure you know what the test entails. Content to review may include time periods, scientific theories, or mathematical equations. If you’re not sure, ask your classmate about study material for the test. This is crucial to your success, especially when you have so little time left.

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Make a schedule. ^{[13] X Research Resources} Divide a day into several hours and identify the knowledge to focus on during those periods. Remember to take time to sleep.

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Make a list of all the things you need to learn. Review the outline or handouts. Identify exactly what you need to review and make your own list of material to reread.

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Take breaks many times. You need to take frequent breaks to avoid burnout. Consider studying for about 45 minutes, then taking a 15-minute break. During your break, feel free to check your email, use your phone, or get up and go for a walk.

One way to schedule breaks is to use the 50/10 method. ^{[14] X Research Resources} Focused on learning in 50 minutes. Remember not to be distracted. If you stop halfway or get distracted, you must start over 50 minutes from the beginning. Take a 10-minute break when you’ve completed the 50-minute review. This will force you to be much more productive during your studies.

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Write down key concepts. List theoretical concepts and taxonomy concepts, making sure to understand them. When reviewing last minute, it’s important to understand the most extensive concepts ahead of time. ^{[15] X Research Sources} Although the test may require small details, it is important to master the general theories first so that you can base smaller data on them.

Sort terms and facts into larger groups. This method is called “encapsulation”. It’s easier to remember if you put each discrete concept in relation to a larger whole. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Review the outline. Usually, the lecturer will hand out the outline at the beginning of the school year or at the beginning of the semester, detailing all the content that needs to be studied in that course. You need to review the outline to make sure you haven’t missed anything that needs to be studied.

You can also use the outline as a review guide. Chances are that your teacher has arranged the content specifically to guide students. Use the outline to review the content to be learned with a broader view, and find the optimal arrangement for that large amount of knowledge.

Nathan Fox, JD

LSAT Teacher, Founder of LSATdemon

Nathan Fox is an LSAT teacher, co-host of the Thinking LSAT Podcast, and a co-founder of LSATdemon. Nathan is the author of six LSAT books including the Fox LSAT Reasoning Encyclopedia. He scored 179 on the February 2007 law school entrance exam and holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

Nathan Fox, JD
LSAT Teacher, Founder of LSATdemon

Consider changing your exam schedule if you get the chance. For tests like the LSAT, one evening is not enough to study. If you take the test without adequate preparation or only study for a week or two, you will not be able to get a high score. You really need about 3 months for such a test, so you should reschedule if you don’t have enough time to study.

Advice

Remember to prepare healthy snacks and drink plenty of water. ^{[17] X Research Source} A nutritious diet can boost brain function and help you retain information as you study.
Sleep as much as possible. Maybe you don’t get as much sleep as you’d like when you only have one day left to study. However, the brain will work best when well rested. ^{[18] X Research source} . You’ll be able to concentrate better the next day if you didn’t have to stay up all night.
You’ll be more likely to do better if you have more than a day to review. If possible, try to plan a week in advance for the next test.
Keep calm. Stress makes it difficult to concentrate and work less efficiently.
Allocate your time to each exercise (e.g. just spend 20 minutes on an easy one). Estimate and limit the study time for each section.
Concentrate while studying. The human attention span only lasts about 45-30 minutes!
Bold document. Only highlight important points.
The next day, get up early, say 5 a.m., and review the highlighted areas. If you finish early, you can go back to sleep.
As you study, imagine/visualize yourself in that situation.
Meditate before studying or when feeling tired. Meditation will help you relax your mind and focus better.
Music without lyrics can help you focus more.
Memorizing knowledge is always difficult before it becomes easy! If it doesn’t work the first time, keep trying.

Warning

Do not discuss answers and do not evaluate your work after the test is over. This can lower your confidence.
Do not discuss with friends at the last minute before taking the test; you may get confused. Only ask your friends about things you don’t know.
Don’t stay up all night. The consequences of a lack of sleep can happen while you’re taking a test – it’s easy to lose focus and make mistakes.
When you’re cramming before a test, you’re trying to get a huge amount of information into your brain all at once and hopefully it’ll come out at the right time. You ‘ll end up forgetting what’s been crammed in before, and that can hurt you later (in midterms and finals, for example). It’s better to study a little bit each day for the whole semester. That way, you will actually absorb the knowledge.

Steps

Create a good environment to learn

Find effective learning methods

Make a study plan

Advice

Warning

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