Your midterm support guide

It’s officially midterm season! While there aren’t specific dates when your midterms start and end, we’re willing to bet that you’ve recently had or are preparing for a few big exams or projects. This guide is chock-full of strategies, tips and helpful ways to unwind every step of the way, from pretest jitters to the best ways to destress after your exams.

Preparing for your midterms

Before your exams and projects are due, you’re hopefully planning on spending some time studying and reviewing test topics. Make the most of your study time by leveling up your study skills and strategies with our help. 

How to prepare 

Before you start reviewing slide decks and your notes, get study strategies from experts — including ASU professors. Having an effective study plan can make all the difference and help your mindset shift from dreading your study session to efficiently reviewing your materials in a way that works best for you. 

• Get helpful tips, like the fact that studying after exercising can help make your study session more effective. Exercise gets your blood flowing more vigorously to the brain, which enables you to concentrate more on what you’re reading and triggers your memory.

• Find out which study strategies work best for you with our complete guide to studying, part 1 and part 2.

• Try these five strategies that help make what you’re learning stick in your mind, even after the exam. 

• For help understanding concepts or an in-depth review of your materials, make an appointment at the tutoring center for expert tips. 

What to listen to

Studies have shown that music produces several positive effects on a person’s body and brain. Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory, which is perfect for a study session. Here are some of our playlist recommendations:

• Deep Focus. A calm and focused playlist with ambient and post-rock music.

• Brain Food. Get into the zone with this playlist of hypnotic electronic tunes. 

• Totally Stress Free. Listen to easy, upbeat songs to relieve stress while you study.

• Lo-Fi Beats. Turn these beats up for a relaxing and focused study session. 

• Study Music: Enhanced Creativity & Focus. ASU student Taylor Bettis, a junior majoring in forensic psychology, recommended this playlist.

Videos to watch 

Get engaged with what you’re learning by jumping into a helpful YouTube video that will help you review, give you some virtual company while you study, and get you started with tools to help you collaborate and study with your classmates.

• Brush up on your skills and get in-depth help on topics including chemistry, algebra, composition and more with ASU’s Study Hall series. 

• Join ASU student YY for a 45-minute study session, filmed on the Tempe campus outside of McCord Hall. 

• Learn how to use Google Jamboard and enhance your study group’s learning potential. 

Snack time

• Hard boiled eggs. Easy to make, easy to store and all that protein will keep you full. And here’s a hack to ensure they are easy to peel.

• Take a dip into something delicious. Hummus or guacamole with some cut-up veggies, pita or crackers. Chips and salsa (although be aware of the messy drip factor). Peanut butter with apples or pretzels. 

• Frozen grapes. If you haven’t eaten frozen seedless grapes, you haven’t truly lived. Easy to make, a healthy alternative to sugary snacks, and incredibly delicious (and addictive!). Rinse the grapes, put them in bunches in Ziplock baggies, and freeze for at least five hours to ensure they are fully frozen.

• Get toasty. There’s avocado toast, peanut butter and banana on toast, Nutella on toast, butter and jam on toast, and melted cheese on toast.

Exam day resources

On the day of your midterms, you want to be feeling your absolute best. We hope you had a good night’s rest and are ready to gear up for your exams. 

How to prepare 

• Plan for test day by making sleep a priority in the days leading up to your exams. 

• If you’ll be taking your exams online, brush up on our how-to tips for everything you need to know. 

• Communicate with your professor if you have any questions or issues while taking your exam. 

What to listen to 

Pump up your confidence level and put yourself in a good mood before test time with these upbeat playlists. Feel free to move around a little while you listen, or have a full-on dance party to hype yourself up before the exam. There’s no harm in getting your body moving to stimulate your brain.

• Confidence Boost. Tune in to this station for songs that will put you on top of the world. 

• Coffee Beats. Get a caffeine boost from these electronic songs that will keep you bright and awake all day long. 

• Rise. For light, positive tunes and uplifting ambient instrumental tracks, this is your playlist. 

• Mood Booster. Let your mood get lifted by these upbeat, feel-good songs. 

• Pump Up Music. Rev up your pre-exam mindset with this upbeat, mega-fun playlist. 

Snack time

Treat yourself to a little snack before your exam to fuel your body and brain. Going into an exam on an empty stomach is not a good idea — you won’t want to be distracted by hunger while you’re trying to remember what you reviewed yesterday. 

• Peanut butter, honey, yogurt dip for apples is a great snack to refuel your brain for another read through your notes. 

• These Greek yogurt dips are so easy that they can be made right inside your yogurt cup.

• For a no-bake snack that will recharge your mind, try these easy-to-make Nutella energy bites.

• Apple sandwiches are both Instagram-worthy and great brain food. Whip up a few, snap a pic and get back to the books. 

• For more snacks you can make at home, try these 10 simple snack recipes we think you’ll love. 

Videos to watch 

Exam day can cause stress and pretest jitters for many students. Try watching one of these videos to help your body relax. These strategies will help you with everything from managing exam-related anxiety to focusing on your breathing and giving your brain a chance to recharge before jumping into test mode. 

• Take a moment before your test for a pre-exam meditation to clear your mind of distractions.

• Feeling midterm nerves? Learn how to beat exam anxiety and get helpful coping strategies. 

• Get a positivity pick-me-up from this YouTuber sharing the motivation she wished she’d heard before midterms.