As the first two weeks of school whirl by, many students are starting to feel the pressure. Even in the short amount of time we’ve been in school, many teachers are giving quizzes and tests that have caught some students off guard. But The Gator’s Eye is here for you with study tips that we’ve collected from many different students so that you can feel prepared!

1. Use Quizlet and other online tools. Online tools and websites can help you memorize vocab and help you understand things on the go when you may not have the time or materials to sit down for a study session.
2. Get enough sleep. Sleep is very important for memory and focus, which leads to better grades. Sleeping after a study session is proven to improve recall, help with memorization, and better memory consolidation.
3. Studying with a friend OR finding a quiet place. Different personalities thrive under different circumstances. If you are a person who flourishes when you work with others then we would suggest finding a study group. Make sure that everyone in the group can keep each other accountable and productive. However, if you are a very social person who gets distracted with others, we would say that you should stick to studying on your own.
4. Don’t go on social media. Limiting distractions is imperative to an efficient and helpful study session. The longer you can stay actively focused, the more information you can understand and recall later. 
5. Use color coding. Color coding can help you organize your thoughts and makes it easier to collect information.
6. Try repetition and rewriting. Rewriting and repetition provide the practice needed to master the retention of a subject or topic. It helps improve speed of recall when needed. 
7. Chew gum. Chewing gum has been proven to help you remember information that you collected while you were studying. Chewing the same flavor of gum during a study session and during the test helps with recall.
8. Listen to music. Soothing and relaxing music can help students beat stress during a study session. Soft music without lyrics is best because lyrics can easily distract students. Music can improve mood and aid in endurance during a long study sessions.
9. Don’t forget the snacks. Snacks can help maintain good energy levels during a long or short study session. Some of the best snacks are almonds, dark chocolate, air-popped popcorn, greek yogurt, frozen grapes, vegetables and dip, and cheese. These help maintain stable glucose levels and help with endurance during a long study session. 
10. Take notes in blue and red pen. Studies have shown that writing in red and blue pen helps you recall things more than when writing in black ink. According to Pen Vibe, “One experiment with a group of male and female Grade 9 students found participants had greater recall with red text than blue, and greater recall with blue than with black” 

Have fun acing your next test!