Whether you’re enrolled in public or private school, or whether you’re a freshman or a senior, you might have experienced the pitfalls of procrastination. Midterms are coming soon, and you should already be thinking about how you will prepare for each of your exams. Cramming may feel like your best option when you’ve put studying on the back burner, but does it really result in good grades? Use the following guide to find out how effective this strategy is — and which methods work.

Why Cramming Doesn't Work

Have you ever sat down at your desk in front of a month’s worth of notes and reading assignments? You probably feel stressed just thinking about it now. When you’re anxious, it’s harder to concentrate, which makes it even more difficult to retain information. If you’re staying up into the small hours of the morning, you also won’t get the sleep you need for maximum academic performance. As a result, long hours of cramming could actually lower your grade.

Effective Alternatives to Cramming

Spaced Learning

Even in the most ideal circumstances, cramming will only help you retain information in the short-term. To truly learn — and ace your midterms and finals — you need to space out your study sessions. In fact, research shows that leaving time in between your studying (such as reviewing notes for 20 minutes, two times a week) is 90% more effective than cramming. If you review information you’ve just absorbed, your brain is more likely to skip over the familiar data. If you wait a while before returning to this information, your brain will treat this as fresh information and make a stronger effort to absorb it. 

Interleaving

If you find it hard to concentrate on one subject for a long period, interleaving might be the study method for you. In this case, researchers suggest working on one topic for a short period before switching to a completely different one, moving onto a third skill, and then returning to the first. This constant toggling will keep your brain active, helping you stay interested in the topic at hand so that you can retain information more effectively.

If you’re looking for a private school that will help bring out your best performance and prepare you for college, consider Saint Joseph High School. This all-boys high school in Metuchen, NJ, offers many beautiful study spots on its 70-acre campus. Since 1963, they’ve enriched the lives of students from Middlesex, Union, Essex, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Monmouth counties through a variety of academic and athletic programs.To speak with a faculty member, call (732) 549-7600, or visit the website to learn more about this esteemed private school.