LAC may lessen midterm stresses

This is the season for cold weather, runny noses, flu shots and for college students -- midterms.

Presumably, all college students experience feelings of anxiety and stress while preparing for midterms. These same students will undoubtedly seek outside help in getting ready for these exams.

Genevieve Ramirez, director of the Learning Assistance Center, advises students to find out about their tests as much as possible. "Find out the quantity of material and how many questions there will be on the test," she said.

She also recommends that students need to understand concepts and ideas. One of the biggest mistakes that students make is that they take weeks of material and try to memorize it, Ramirez said. "The material needs to be understood and students should draw from their thinking ability rather than from random memory," she said.

Ramirez went on to explain that a person's retention level is limited. Too much information in a short time period can cause the material to become tangled up.

"Spread out the material over multiple sessions," she said. "Don't try to study large amounts at one time."

In addition, students should study according to their learning skills. By doing this, Ramirez points out that it is easier to retain the information.

"If students just study the way that helps them to learn faster, and not the way someone tells them to study, it would be better for them," she said.

By creating their own practice tests at home, students can further help themselves in preparing for midterms, Ramirez said. In doing this, students can practice within the same time frame of the real exam at home. It will also help students to get a feel of how it will be on the midterm.

"The fewer surprises on a test the less anxiety a student will feel on a test," Ramirez said. "It also helps a person to relax."

The Learning Assistance Center offers workshops on test strategies and notetaking among others. The center is located in LIBE-012 and walk-in counseling is available.

Those interested should call (310) 985-5350.