Most high school students know that once holiday vacation is over, it’s time for mid-term evaluations, the 90 minute, brain racking, chill inducing, multiple choice question heavy, essay laced tests that cause  most kids to just give up on studying and take whatever they get.  But, there is a way to prepare. And, it isn’t some miracle, 24-hour cram session. It’s a semester long process that anyone can do. Here are the steps:

Note Cards – Make note cards at the end of every week. On the weekends, or maybe Friday night, gather up all the readings and work done during the week for each subject. Make five note cards with the most important information and keep them somewhere safe (like a folder). This prepares you for smaller tests and exams as well as mid-terms.

Timeline – When you start vacation, don’t leave your book bag in your locker. Take it home with all of your notebooks inside so you can reorganize your work. Make a timeline. Put all the papers in order from the first day of school up until then. This will refresh your knowledge of all the topics that have been covered.  And, you can make sure you have all the relevant materials.

Outlines – If a teacher gives you an outline, treat it like a gift from above. An outline tells you what is on the test and what you need to know. Praise it; love it; use it.

Start Early – Start looking over the information early. You can’t study half a year’s worth of information in six hours, the night before the test with no sleep. Start at least a week before mid-terms and study an hour each night. Hopefully by this time you have all of your note cards and past quizzes in order.

So, these are some simple tactics to help you tame the mid-term monsters. Hopefully you will do well.  But if you don’t, remember mid-terms only count for 10 percent of your grade.