As a senior, this will be my fourth year enduring the arduous process of midterms that takes place in the middle of January. At a time of year when students are still drowsy from winter break, students often find themselves unmotivated to prepare for them. Based on my experience, I’ve compiled the best method for scoring well in a relatively short amount of time!

The first step is creating a schedule. This year, I have to take six midterms, so it’s essential that I divide my time between each of the subjects. By splitting up which days I spend studying for specific subjects, I can have a clear schedule that holds me accountable for studying.

Next, I recommend doing a brief review of the material covered from September to December. This step helps jog your memory and ensures that you don’t miss anything while studying later on. You can review by rereading your notes or going through slideshows of notes from class.

 The third step is identifying areas of weakness. These topics should be what you focus most of your energy on, especially if they’re guaranteed to appear on the exam. To strengthen these areas, watch YouTube videos on the topic and attempt practice problems on AP Classroom, your textbook, or other websites (search: [subject] unit _ practice problems). Afterwards, make sure to hit the other topics that you feel more confident in to reaffirm your understanding.

Once you’ve completed a full content review, it’s also important to take a break. Practicing self-care, whether that’s through taking a day to rest or engaging in relaxing activities, helps combat burnout and can improve productivity when you get back to studying.

The second-to-last step is taking a practice exam on the subject. This serves as a checkpoint to assess how well you prepare and provides you with a realistic estimate of your potential score on the midterm exam. Finally, go through missed questions and learn why your answers were incorrect. If necessary, revise those areas of weakness until you achieve mastery of practice problems. Once completed, take a break and repeat for your next subject!

By following this method, I can confidently assure you of success on your exams! Midterm season can be a stressful time for students, so I highly reiterate the importance of prioritizing both academics and personal well-being. Best of luck to everyone on their midterm exams!