It’s that time of year again, when we lock ourselves in our rooms or the library and cry over our textbooks. Or, maybe, you’re the kind of person who doesn’t study and just wings it. But don’t worry, friend! I’ve got some study tips to help you reduce stress and ace that test.

Did you know the average attention span is about forty-five minutes? That means after about forty-five minutes of intense studying, your brain might feel a bit fried.

So, instead of pouring over your books for hours, try studying for forty-five minutes, and then give yourself a fifteen-minute break. Use that time to stretch, grab some food, or commiserate with friends.

Those fifteen minutes give your brain a chance to absorb the information; too much information at once can overload your short term memory, which means less information makes it into your long term memory (and if we’re going to pass, we need that long term memory).

You’re also better off if you make a “to do” list. It may sound a blasé, but mapping out all your tests and assignments can keep you more organized and on task.

Further, it will help you manage your time better, because it gives you a full picture of what you need to do. It’s also incredibly satisfying to cross of assignments, which can make you feel more productive and reduce stress.

Studying the same place every time can also be beneficial. Try to make your study space consistent; being in the same environment over and over eventually makes it less distracting, because there are fewer new things to attract your attention. This works best in quiet places.

Speaking of environment, listening to the same music every time you study can help you retain information.

If you listen to a certain song the first time you studied, listen to it again next time. Hearing the same music may make it easier to recall information from previous study sessions and help it stick in your mind.

But, be careful with what song you choose; you’re generally better off with quieter music, especially instrumentals. More importantly, you don’t want to ruin a favorite song.

In the same vein, you might want to go out on and purchase a pack of gum. Chew it when you study, and then again when you take your midterm. Like with music, doing the same activity when you learned the information can make it easier to recall.

Finally, quiz yourself. Have a friend ask you question, but write down the answer. If you get used to writing the answer, you’re less likely to forget it when you take the test.

You could also answer the questions orally, if that’s what works for you. If you’re feeling really nervous, try doing both. Answering the questions in multiple forms can really help it stick.

Good luck, everyone! Hopefully these study tips will help you slay those midterms!