How to Cram for Midterms Learning American English

Let’s start with this.  Cramming or learning a lot in a very short time to pass a test or an exam is for some students a way of learning not just a catch up technique.  The word cram itself usually has a negative connotation.  It’s associated with not doing homework on time and consequently being forced to work extra hard at the last minute just to stay in the game.  It’s not necessarily so. 

Some people simply have good short memory and no intention to retain the information needed for this particular test or exam.  They simply do not want to waste the long memory and intuitively choose the most efficient and the most energy effective learning method not to fail but to pass and to get a “good enough” grade. 

For others it is, unfortunately, a negative choice of fixing the consequences of past wrong judgments or making the easy decisions as opposed to the right ones.  Very often, in the school or college environment, people are simply dragged into or fall for extra curriculum activities not associated with learning, which with time take the time away from the primary purpose or goal of going to school.  … You know what I mean … 

There is also a positive aspect of cramming.  It is an intense review (video) of what you have already learned as expected and as you were supposed to, preparing for classes, completing your home assignments and working hard throughout all marking period to make sure that you have learnt and know your stuff. 

Whatever the reason you are cramming, there are some simple rules to make this learning process effective and efficient.  It doesn’t matter what subject you are studying for.  Whether it is math, geography, biology, history or American English or you are preparing for the TOEFL exam, the principles of how the human brain works and how people remember things are the same all across the board. 

The word cram has also another meaning, which is used in telecommunication especially in telephony.  It stands for adding illegal charges to your telephone or cable or internet service bill either for calls you have not made or for any other reason. 

Happy learning!  Good luck on your midterms!