Hey everyone, it’s CARL, back with some great news! Summer is just around the corner! School is almost over, and soon you’ll be able to kick your feet up and enjoy your summer break. Before that however, there’s one last issue: Comps. Considering they are worth a significant portion of your final grade, it’s easy to understand why many students can feel in over their heads when it comes to comps.

I’m here to help with some study secrets!

1. Start studying sooner, rather than later. This might seem like common sense to some of you, but to others, it can seem a lot easier to push studying until the night before.
2. Create a study space.
3. Make a plan to study with others. Sometimes, the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else!
4. Wake up early. Instead of staying up past midnight to study, try waking up earlier instead. You’ll find it a lot easier to focus and retain material!
5. Get some exercise! Surprisingly, studies show that going out and burning some energy is actually beneficial to your memory and information retention.
6. Take advantage of your teachers! Many teachers are happy to help, so feel free to go to student hours, or even just reach you and ask for new material!
7. Make your own materials! Many students enjoy creating their own Quizlets, Kahoots, and other study aids to use and share with their peers.
8. Take breaks. Even though this may seem like the opposite of what you should be doing, taking breaks to preserve your mental health is just as important as studying.

Remember: While studying is important, so are you. If you need to take a break, do it! It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and it might help to talk to someone, whether a friend, a parent, or even a trusted teacher.