While it may work for the current test – you will forget everything by the end of the day when the test is over. This doesnt solve the learning problem – just the taking test part for the immediate need….if the question came up the next day – you would not know the answer even though you got it right on the test you took yesterday.

So, how does one learn without cramming?

The best thing I have found to help is not to pull all nighters but to use what is learned each day some how. Repeat what you learn in class during conversation. Use the math you learn in actual calculations throughout the day. Talk history, philosophy etc with others and discuss what went on in class

While this may sound retarded to most people – just keep in mind – it takes an average person 7 times to hear something before he remembers it – if you can use or repeat items 7 times during the day then you will have gotten it and the need for cramming will disappear.

I went through 3 years of college using this technique, first year was my AS Computer Science, second was my BS Computer Info Systems and third year was my MS in Software Engineering. It works – you just have to train yourself to do it.

had a vital exam last year and a less vital one the next day, so spent less than 2 days overall on teh latter, and it was fine, I only forgot some key dates, I’d done enought to cover the key arguments in that time. Got the same grade in each!

Your most valuable asset the few nights before the exam is your own notebook. I would read mine before passing out, and it would stick. Especially useful when it’s not multi choice.

But cramming for the bar exam was a must. 70 percent of the stuff on that exam, I’d never see again in real practice.

When the goal is just to PASS a test loaded with Q’s on subjects you will never need in your career, CRAM, but when the goal is to LEARN, don’t miss a class, listen to lectures and take notes.

I, however, went through my entire high school life without studying for a single test. If I read the chapter once, I was fine and did well on the test. On the other hand, i also paid attention in class and usually forgot to study and stuff.

The one time I did spend a week studying, it was on a test of the heart, and i failed it, so I said never agian.

As long as you go to class, you pay attention and take notes, and you read your text and do all the assignments, you’ll do fine. Even if you don’t do all your assignments, you do ok.

I however, am a fast learner and I pick things up very easily after reading a text book once, so long as i’m interested. If your not interested, you don’t want to learn, so you won’t do it. Like I said, go to class, do the assignments, and read the text and you shoud be fine.

I did.