By Kelly O'Brien, NFF Center for Youth Development Through Sport, Springfield College
Each week you spend hours practicing, running drills, reviewing plays, and lifting weights in order to be prepared for the big game. Well, in order to be ready for an important test, you must also have the right skills and preparation. You must attend class, read the chapters, and as mentioned in the previous article, you must take organized and detailed notes. However, your preparation does not end with these activities. You must also sharpen your study skills and test-taking strategies.
There are many different drills that you can use to be successful for the big game or the big exam. Below are some basic techniques that can help you in just about any situation.
Read, read, read! Most of the information that will be covered on an exam is typically covered in your textbook!
Review! Take about 10-15 minutes daily to review your material. This will keep you active in what you're learning. Weekly reviews will allow you to piece together information from week to week. Final reviews should take place a few nights before the big exam. Emphasis should be placed on the quality of review, not just the quantity.
Flashcards! These are especially helpful when studying for an objective exam because they can be used anywhere and during short periods of time. They can help you learn information such as definitions, dates, and formulas.
Previous exams or quizzes! These can allow you to predict the types of questions that may be asked as well as the style your teacher may use to construct the exam. This technique can be especially helpful for a final exam that is cumulative.
Study groups! These are helpful when studying material that requires different perspectives or is high in volume. However, this type of studying can be detrimental if the group always goes off task. Make sure to spend additional time studying on your own.
Different types of exams, like different opponents, may require you to use a unique strategy in order to be successful. The tips below should help you conquer both objective (multiple choice, true/false, matching) and subjective (short answer or essay) exams.
Objective
Look over the whole exam before you begin. This will help you budget your time and find clues to answers that you may not know.
Write down any formulas you might need so that you will not worry about forgetting them.
Answer the questions you know first and then go back to the ones you are unsure of.
Try to answer the questions yourself by covering up the choices. If the answer you came up with is listed, there is a good chance that it may be correct.
Subjective
Read the question thoroughly to be sure you understand what is being asked.
Pay close to attention to the key words (i.e. discuss, explain) to determine how to answer the question. This "Matching Terms" exercise will help you recognize and understand all of these terms.
If you have time, outline your answer before actually writing it.
Try to be brief and to the point. It is often the quality of your answer, not the quantity that is the most important.
Finally, if time permits, review your answer before handing it in. Check for spelling mistakes and be sure that you have answered ALL parts of the question.
If used correctly, these tips and drills should help you be prepared for any exam. It is very important that you practice them on a regular basis. You wouldn't spend just one day getting ready for a Friday night game, so why spend just one evening or one hour preparing for your Biology exam? Use your head and you'll be just as successful in the classroom as you are on the field.
Information adapted from: A Student Athlete's Guide to College Success. Petrie and Denson, Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1999.
This information was taken from the NFL/NFF Coaching Academy program that was designed under the leadership of Dr. Dan Gould at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and Dr. Steve Danish at Virginia Commonwealth University. The program is designed to further educate youth and high school coaches in not only the areas of football skills and strategy but also the game's character building and social benefits.
Whether it's a strategy for keeping a team academically eligible, the development of a life skills curriculum for a coaching clinic, or the latest research on sports in society, the NFF Center for Youth Development through Sport at Springfield College in Massachusetts has the answers. While supporting Play It Smart remains the primary focus of the staff's attention, the NFF Center is quickly becoming a source of information on using sport to develop the qualities of leadership and academic excellence in America's young people.
For more information about the NFF Center, click here.
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