Move Beyond Memorizing: Study Skills to Help You Succeed This Midterm Season
By Erin House & Tracey Ropp
Midterm season is here.
For some of you, this might be your first time writing a midterm at the university or college level. For others, you may have written midterms before, but it didn’t go as well as you’d hoped. Or perhaps you’ve experienced some success with midterms in the past, and you’re looking for ways to keep that success going.
Wherever you’re starting from, midterm season is a great opportunity to check in on your learning and progress this term, not just earn a grade.
Why Midterms Matter (Beyond the Grade)
Midterms are more than a test of memory. Studying well now can help you:
Deepen your understanding of course content
Build skills you’ll use in future courses, your degree, and even your career
Apply what you’ve learned in meaningful ways
In most post-secondary programs, instructors aren’t just testing your ability to recall facts — they want to see how well you can use the information you’ve been learning. Developing study skills that focus on both understanding and application will help you now and in the long term.
We often remind students that the purpose of education isn’t simply to pass exams — it’s to learn in ways that stay with you and support your growth.
What if Studying Looked Different?
Many students feel stuck in old study habits that focus mostly on reviewing notes or re-reading textbooks — often just before the test. These passive approaches can make it feel like you’re studying, but they don’t always lead to real understanding.
Shifting to more active study skills — where you engage your brain and practice using the material — can have a huge impact.
One simple framework is to ask yourself the two U’s:
Do I Understand the course content?
Can I Use the course content?
If the answer to either is “not yet,” that’s your starting point.
Active Study Skills to Try This Midterm Season
Small changes in the way you study can lead to big results. Here are some practical strategies to try:
Explain It in Your Own Words
When you can explain the material clearly — either out loud or in your notes — it’s a good sign that you understand it. Try teaching the content to a friend, family member, or even yourself. Invite questions and see if you can answer them.
Connect the Dots
Look for relationships between ideas. Where do concepts overlap? Can you show these connections in a diagram like a mind map, timeline, Venn diagram, or chart? Visualizing the links between topics can help the information stick.
Practice Using the Content
It’s not enough to review — you need to practice. Try:
Redoing homework questions
Finding old exams or textbook practice problems
Creating your own questions and solving them
This helps you prepare for the kinds of application questions often found on post-secondary midterms.
Link Course Content to Real Life
Ask yourself: how does this material connect to the world around me? Can I link it to something I’ve seen, experienced, or are curious about? Real-life connections make the material more memorable and meaningful.
Small Shifts, Big Impact
Students we support often notice that focusing on understanding and applying information — rather than just memorizing — helps them feel more confident going into midterms.
Studying this way isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, engaging with the material in deeper ways, and trusting that these small, thoughtful shifts can make a big difference.
Ready to study in a way that supports deeper learning and long-term success? Connect with us to explore how we can support you during midterm season and beyond.
The ideas shared in this post are for general reflection and informational purposes. Everyone’s needs are different, and this content isn’t meant to replace personalized or professional support. If you’d benefit from one-on-one guidance, consider reaching out to us, or another qualified professional. In our independent private practices we offer counselling and psychotherapy virtually to individuals living in Ontario, Canada.