As we noted above, there is no substitute for good preparation. You have to study, pay attention in class, read the materials, and engage with what you are learning.

The best way to study is not to cram it all in hours or minutes before an exam. In fact, research has proven that a person who studies and then gets some rest does better on a test than someone who crams for twice as long and then goes straight to the exam.

How is this true? Scientists believe that one function of sleep is to give your brain time to consolidate what you have learned during the day. Think of it as a filing system: after you study everything is just sitting around in a messy pile on your desk; during sleep your body files it all away, in permanent storage.

This means that it is better to study for one hour, five days in a row then to study five hours just before your test.