Editorial Standards
This article is written by the Gradily team and reviewed for accuracy and helpfulness. We aim to provide honest, well-researched content to help students succeed. Our recommendations are based on independent research — we never accept paid placements.
How to Prepare for Midterms (Study Plan That Works)
Two-week countdown plan, subject prioritization, and practice test strategies.
Table of Contents
How to Prepare for Midterms (Study Plan That Works)
TL;DR
Start preparing 2 weeks out. Gather all materials (notes, assignments, study guides). Prioritize your hardest classes. Use active study methods (practice tests, flashcards, teaching concepts) instead of passive re-reading. Create a day-by-day schedule. Do practice exams under test conditions. Sleep before the exam is more valuable than one more hour of studying.
Midterms Are Coming. Don't Panic.
Midterms are basically the boss battle of the semester. Half a semester's worth of material, multiple exams in one week, and the sinking realization that you should have been paying more attention in October.
But here's the thing: midterms are predictable. You know when they're coming. You know what subjects they cover. And with the right plan, you can walk in feeling prepared instead of panicked.
This guide gives you a complete two-week study plan. Whether you're a planner who starts early or a procrastinator who's reading this with five days left — there's a strategy for you.
Week 1: The Foundation (14-8 Days Before)
Day 14-13: The Audit
Before you study anything, you need to know WHAT to study. For each class with a midterm:
Gather your materials:
- Class notes (all of them — borrow from a friend if yours are incomplete)
- Textbook chapters covered
- Homework assignments and returned quizzes/tests
- Study guide (if your teacher provided one)
- Syllabus (lists topics and readings by date)
- Any slides or handouts from class
Identify what's on the exam:
- What chapters/units does it cover?
- What format is it? (multiple choice, essay, short answer, mix?)
- Is it cumulative or just recent material?
- How much is it worth as a percentage of your grade?
- Are there any topics the teacher emphasized?
Pro tip: Your returned quizzes and tests are GOLD. Teachers often recycle questions or test similar concepts. Review what you got wrong and make sure you understand it now.
Day 12-11: The Priority Matrix
Not all midterms are created equal. You need to be strategic about where you invest your time.
Rank your midterms by two factors:
-
Difficulty for YOU (how well do you understand the material?)
- 1 = I'm clueless
- 5 = I've got this
-
Impact on your grade
- How much is the midterm worth?
- What's your current grade in the class?
Priority order:
- Hard material + High impact → Most study time here
- Hard material + Low impact → Solid study time
- Easy material + High impact → Review and practice
- Easy material + Low impact → Light review
Day 10-8: Begin Active Studying
Start with your highest-priority subject. Key word: ACTIVE studying.
What active studying looks like:
- Doing practice problems (not just reading examples)
- Making flashcards AND using them
- Writing summaries from memory (close your notes, write what you remember, then check)
- Teaching concepts out loud to yourself or someone else
- Taking practice quizzes/tests
- Working through your study guide without looking at answers first
What passive studying looks like (avoid this):
- Re-reading your notes
- Re-reading the textbook
- Highlighting everything (again)
- Staring at a page hoping information absorbs through your eyes
- Watching YouTube videos without pausing to think
Passive studying feels productive but isn't. Active studying feels harder because it IS harder — and that's exactly why it works better.
Week 2: The Push (7-1 Days Before)
Day 7-6: Study Guide Mastery
If your teacher gave you a study guide, this is your roadmap. Go through it item by item:
- For each topic, rate your understanding (1-5)
- Topics at 4-5: Quick review only
- Topics at 2-3: Focused study session
- Topics at 1: Get help ASAP (Gradily, tutoring, study group, teacher office hours)
If there's NO study guide, create your own:
- List every major topic from each unit
- Include key vocabulary and definitions
- Note important formulas, dates, or theories
- Write sample questions for each topic
Day 5-4: Practice Tests
This is the most effective study technique for exams, period. Research consistently shows that practice testing beats all other study methods.
How to use practice tests:
- Find or create a practice test (old exams, textbook review questions, online resources)
- Set a timer matching the real exam length
- Take the test WITHOUT notes (simulate real conditions)
- Grade yourself
- Review EVERY wrong answer — understand WHY you got it wrong
- Study the gaps, then take another practice test later
Where to find practice tests:
- Your teacher might have old exams or practice tests
- Textbook chapter review questions
- Online resources (Khan Academy, Quizlet, course-specific sites)
- Study groups can create tests for each other
- Gradily can help you work through practice problems
Day 3: The Review Blitz
By now, you should know what you know and what you don't. Focus today on:
The stubborn topics: The things that still aren't clicking despite studying Common mistakes: Patterns from practice tests High-yield material: Topics your teacher emphasized or that appear frequently
The Feynman Technique:
- Pick a concept you're struggling with
- Explain it in simple terms as if teaching a 10-year-old
- Identify gaps in your explanation (these are gaps in your understanding)
- Go back to your materials and fill those gaps
- Explain it again until it's smooth
Day 2: Light Review + Preparation
Study:
- Review flashcards one final time
- Glance over your summaries
- Do a few practice problems in your weakest areas
- DON'T try to learn new material. If you don't know it by now, cramming won't help.
Prepare:
- Set out everything you need for tomorrow (pencils, calculator, ID, allowed notes)
- Know the exam time and location
- Plan what you'll eat for breakfast
- Set your alarm (with a backup alarm)
Day 1: Exam Day
Morning routine:
- Eat a real breakfast (your brain needs fuel)
- Quick review of key formulas or concepts (10-15 minutes max)
- Light physical activity (even a short walk) to reduce anxiety
- Arrive early so you're not rushing
During the exam:
- Read through the entire exam first
- Start with questions you're confident about
- Budget your time (don't spend 20 minutes on one question)
- For essay questions: outline before writing
- Leave time to review your answers
Subject-Specific Study Strategies
Math/Science Midterms
- Practice problems are everything. You learn math by DOING math.
- Rework homework problems you got wrong
- Focus on understanding the process, not memorizing solutions
- Make a formula sheet (even if you can't use it during the test, making it is great review)
- Do problems without looking at examples first
History/Social Studies Midterms
- Create timelines for major events
- Focus on cause and effect (WHY things happened, not just WHAT happened)
- Know key figures, dates, and terms
- Practice writing thesis statements for potential essay questions
- Use concept maps to connect themes across units
English/Literature Midterms
- Review major themes, characters, and plot points
- Know literary devices and be able to identify them in passages
- Practice close reading and analysis
- Review essay structures (especially if there's a written portion)
- Prepare quotes you might want to use in essays
Foreign Language Midterms
- Use flashcards for vocabulary (Anki or Quizlet)
- Practice conjugations until they're automatic
- Listen to content in the target language
- Practice writing sentences using new grammar concepts
- Review common mistakes from past quizzes
The Study Schedule Template
Here's a sample schedule for a student with 4 midterms:
Two Weeks Out:
| Day | Morning (before school) | After School | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | Gather materials (all classes) | Audit + Priority ranking | Organize study space |
| Sun | Math practice problems (1 hr) | History review (1 hr) | English essay review (45 min) |
| Mon | Flashcards (15 min) | Math ch. 1-3 review (1 hr) | Science lab review (45 min) |
| Tue | Flashcards (15 min) | History notes review (1 hr) | Math ch. 4-5 (45 min) |
| Wed | Flashcards (15 min) | Science concepts (1 hr) | English themes/characters (45 min) |
| Thu | Flashcards (15 min) | Math practice test | History essay practice |
| Fri | Review math practice test | Science practice problems | Light review |
One Week Out:
| Day | Morning | After School | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | Math gaps from practice | History practice test | Science study guide |
| Sun | Review History practice | English practice | Math round 2 practice |
| Mon | Flashcards | Science practice test | Review weakest subject |
| Tue | Flashcards | Gap filling (hardest subject) | Moderate review |
| Wed | Light review only | Prepare materials | Relax + early bed |
| Thu | EXAM DAY | Review for Friday exam | Light prep |
| Fri | EXAM DAY | Celebrate 🎉 | Rest |
Adjust based on your specific exam schedule and number of midterms.
Common Midterm Mistakes to Avoid
1. Starting Too Late
"I'll start studying this weekend" when the exam is Monday. Two weeks is ideal. One week is manageable. Two days is damage control.
2. Studying Everything Equally
Spending the same amount of time on material you know cold as material you're struggling with. Focus on your GAPS.
3. Group Study as Your Only Method
Study groups are great for discussing concepts, but you need solo practice time too. Do both.
4. Sacrificing Sleep
Pulling an all-nighter before a midterm is one of the worst things you can do. Sleep is when your brain consolidates memories. A full night's sleep > an extra 3 hours of studying.
5. Not Eating Before the Exam
Your brain runs on glucose. Eat breakfast. Your ability to think clearly literally depends on it.
6. Ignoring the Exam Format
Studying for an essay exam is different from studying for multiple choice. Know the format and practice accordingly.
Study Tools That Help
- Gradily — Step-by-step help on any subject when you're stuck
- Khan Academy — Free video explanations for math, science, and more
- Quizlet/Anki — Flashcard apps with spaced repetition
- Forest — Phone blocker to keep you focused
- Google Calendar — Schedule your study blocks
How Gradily Makes Midterm Prep Easier
The biggest time-waster during midterm studying is getting stuck on one concept and spending an hour going nowhere. Gradily fixes that by:
- Breaking down difficult concepts step by step so you keep moving
- Helping with practice problems when you can't figure out the approach
- Explaining things differently when your textbook or notes don't make sense
- Available at any hour because midterm studying doesn't follow a 9-5 schedule
Don't waste your study time being stuck. Get the explanation you need and move on to the next topic.
Final Thoughts
Midterms are stressful, but they're also predictable. You know when they're coming, you know what they cover, and you now have a plan.
Start early. Study actively. Practice test yourself. Prioritize your weak areas. Sleep before the exam.
That's it. That's the formula. It's not complicated — it just requires discipline.
You've been learning this material all semester. Now it's time to show what you know.
Go get those grades. 💪
Ready to ace your classes?
Gradily learns your writing style and completes assignments that sound like you. No credit card required.
Get Started Free