StudyBlog

As AP Exam time grows nearer, I get quite a few calls from parents looking for help with preparing their son or daughter for the big test day.   Whether the student is preparing for Calculus, Physics, US History, or any of the 30 Advanced Placement subjects,  my first suggestion is always the same: Flashcards – good ol’ fashioned paper ones.  The truth is that whether you are a High School Senior getting ready for your AP Chemistry exam or a kindergartener learning the alphabet, flashcards are fun, economical and very effective.
There are all kinds of pre-made flash cards you can buy – for vocabulary, multiplication tables, ISEE preparation, anything you can imagine.  But honestly, you’re best bet is to make them yourself.  It’s cheaper, and the process of making the flashcards is a major part of the benefit from using them.  Even as you write out the cards, before you even have started “studying”, your brain is learning the material.  Keep the info on your flashcards “bite-sized” – never put more that a short sentence, or two on each. That way each card is easily understood with little more than a glance.
I always encourage students to be artistic when making flashcards.  Pictures can be drawn or taped onto the cards.  You can use different colored cards or pens.  You can even include sayings, poems or puns to help you remember.  Personalizing your flashcards will help each card to stand out, while making the learning process more fun and creative.
Once the cards are made, there are countless different ways to use them.  You can test yourself, or have someone else test you.  You can spread the cards out on the floor and pick them up as you master the information on each. You can mix all of your cards together, or separate the cards into categories and study one category at a time.  You can get together with your classmates, divide up the cards between you, and teach your pile to the rest of the group. The more ways you can find to use the cards, the better you will learn the information on them.
One of the great things about flashcards is their size.  A stack of 50 or so will fit into your pocket, and can go anywhere you do.  Anytime you have a spare minute, you can pull them out to review a few concepts.
The best thing about flashcards is that they will tell you exactly what you know, and exactly what you need to study. If you are sure of a concept, you can put the card aside.  If you don’t know the answer on the back within a few seconds, look over the card and put it back in the mix.  That way, you can reinforce the knowledge later.  As you get better and better, you can watch your pile of “known” cards grow, and easily measure your success.