With midterms almost upon us, there is a last minute scurry to study and score as much as possible. Midterms are just a test and by following review plans and test taking techniques, it’s as easy to get through as a ten point quiz. The ideal situation would be if you were prepared and ready at least a week before your tests start, but if you a procrastinator, here are some easy tips to get you through.

1. Don’t cram!: If you are the kind of kid that waits till the last day to study, DON’T stay up all night to do it. Studies have proven that lack of sleep is one of the biggest causes of memory loss and panic attacks on the day of the exam. If this is you, instead of cramming in everything the day before, take deep breaths and ask yourself what you know and what you don’t. Make a list of the topics you think you really need to focus on. Try to find information of these topics in videos or pictures, something visually that sticks in your mind instead of reading a textbook all night.
2. Take a walk: It’s important to step away from studying every once in awhile. You are likely to be very stressed the day before an exam, so it’s absolutely vital for your brain to relax. Take a stroll outside or even walk inside of our house and try to distract your thoughts from school and tests, think about things that you like and admire. When you feel like you got your nerves under control, go back to studying. Do this for about five minutes every two hours and you will find that it greatly boosts your memory and concentration.
3. Join Study groups: Try asking your friends if you could study together. It’s important to help each other and share each other’s knowledge. Your friend might know something important for the test that you don’t. Quiz each other and give constructive feedback on where each of you could improve. If you feel that your concentration gets distracted when you study with friends, try to take out the distracter. In most cases, this is the use of phones. Leave your phones away from your study table, and only focus on the material in your hands, you’ll automatically have more concentration.
4. Meet with your teachers or test givers: It’s okay to talk to teachers. Tell them what you have done so far and where you need their help. Teachers have a lot of experience, take advantage of that. Ask them about the most important areas of the exam and what you really need to focus on. They are here to help!

Using these tips, even the biggest procrastinator can get an A!