Almost everybody has heard the phrase “the calm before the storm.” However, one could argue that preparing for midterms is the exact opposite: in the weeks leading up to midterms, students wear themselves out mentally and physically in hopes of enjoying the calm of winter break. While it is necessary to put in hard work to do well on these tests, the storm does not have to be as painful as many make it. By countering painful test prep with efficient study methods, students can reach the calm they seek.
Test coordinator and math teacher Mrs. Spunt shared her tips for reaching this calm, along with senior Rebecca Elitzur, junior Dalya Prezant, and freshmen Arabella Kushner, Irene Greene, and Nathan Cohen. Many freshmen also shared their perspectives through a poll.
The deciding factor in the strength of the storm is a student’s workload, which varies grade by grade. Upperclassmen find themselves taking more midterms in more rigorous subjects than freshmen because more AP classes are offered in the last half of high school. For instance, freshmen like Cohen and Greene found themselves taking two or three tests, supplemented by projects in electives or Judaics classes. On the other hand, seniors like Elitzur shared a different forecast.
“I’m taking midterms in AP Calculus, AP Microeconomics, AP Statistics, AP Chemistry, and AP Literature,” she said. The only class she can exempt is ISHISPA, a social studies class on Israeli history and politics, since it is not an AP course.
This also rang true for Prezant, who is taking four AP midterms. “I have to exempt anything that’s not an AP,” she said, “because then, since there are no AP finals, I can focus on classes such as math or Torah for my finals.”
Many freshmen shared their choices for which midterms they plan to exempt, and more than 80% of respondents said they are exempting their history midterm. This could be for many reasons. “I’m exempting history because I’m extraordinarily interested in the second semester’s syllabus and curriculum,” Cohen said. Since modern Israeli history is the topic of the second semester, he believes it will be more interesting and therefore easier to study for the class final.
Other students chose based on perceived difficulty, such as Kushner. “Whichever tests I think will be harder next semester, I decided to take this semester, so I would have the option to exempt the final,” she said.
This strategy of completing more difficult subjects as midterms can make the end of the year less stressful, allowing students to ease into summer or, in the case of many freshmen, their upcoming Israel trip. However, Spunt takes a different approach. As Posnack’s testing coordinator and a math teacher, she believes exemption decisions should be grades-based.
“I think that if you’re in that A-minus, B-plus area in a subject, you should exempt it,” Spunt said. “Because if you don’t do well on the midterm, it’s going to drop you to a B.”
Her approach is meant to keep grades at their highest and reduce stress about maintaining A averages, allowing students to shift their focus to other subjects.
While deciding what to exempt is important, staying organized and using consistent study methods is key. This begins with in-class prep time, which many teachers give students as midterms approach. Spunt emphasized the importance of using this time effectively.
“I would hope that students ask questions, participate every day, go to office hours, pay attention, and stay on task,” she said, emphasizing that teachers are available to help.
Prezant agreed, recommending that students ask teachers about tricky questions on study guides. “Any question that comes up, I’m able to ask the teacher because they’re right there,” she said.
Apart from study guides and teacher assistance, many students have personal study methods that work for them. While these methods vary, they often rely on repetition. Eighty-four percent of freshmen polled said they used some form of flashcards to study.
Along with flashcards, many students emphasized the importance of practice problems in math. Elitzur said she completes extra practice problems and often fills out math review sheets multiple times. “You do it three times, and then you really know it,” she said.
Not every subject works the same way, however. Classes such as history or science rely on relationships between events and concepts. Prezant described her experience studying for AP Biology.
“For something like AP bio, where everything is connected and you have to understand it conceptually, I like to use tools at the library,” she said. She recalled using whiteboards at the NSU Alvin Sherman Library in Davie to write out information, draw diagrams and organize concepts.
Other students use similar techniques. Kushner uses a method known as active recall. First, students engage with the material through notes, videos or reading. Then, they write down everything they remember and check it afterward to identify gaps. This method helps reinforce memory and highlight areas that need improvement.
Another study tool has become increasingly popular: artificial intelligence. When asked about AI use, Spunt said she supports it. She encourages students to input study guides into ChatGPT to generate additional practice questions.
Cohen agreed, saying ChatGPT allows him to generate “endless practice problems.” Greene uses Speechify, an AI-powered program that reads text aloud. The program allows users to control reading speed and voice options and creates practice quizzes based on the material.
Before choosing study methods, students should also make a study plan. Spunt recommended consistency.
“I would spend time every day on every subject you’re testing,” she said, “and cover a different topic or chapter per subject each day.” After reviewing all topics, she advised students to spend the final days reviewing material together.
Some students begin studying up to two weeks before midterms to maximize repetition.
Despite preparation, midterms can be a stressful time. Students reported feeling especially anxious about math and science exams. Elitzur recommended channeling anxiety into productive studying.
“Nerves get better when you focus them on learning the subject and using your time the right way,” she said.
Others reminded students that midterms often feel more intimidating than they are. “It’s only 20% of your grade,” Prezant said. “If you’ve been following along in class all year, things come back faster than you think.”
Spunt agreed. “If you’re doing well in a class now, you should realistically do well on your midterm,” she said.
While midterms can be intense, teachers and students agree they are manageable with preparation and focus. With the right strategies, students can enter winter break confident in their efforts.
Best of luck, and enjoy the calm of winter break.
