How to Study for a Test With Mind Maps

Lead-in Part

When the school tests are around the corner, students tend to find ways that bring easiness to study and help them quickly revise the entire syllabus. Additionally, students look for methods that ensure they retain the topics for longer. In general, note-taking is considered a good method to study for a test, but researchers have observed that when students create mind maps for tests, they tend to be more productive.

In this article, we will help you understand the key points to consider if preparing for any test by illustrating a couple of exams where we will illustrate the benefits of creating mind maps using tools like EdrawMind.

How to Study for a Test?

Every student has their own way of studying for a test. Some tend to make notes, some watch online videos, some go to the tuition to learn new things from their teacher, and some revise the material one night before their test. That being said, there are some effective key points that, if considered, would present great results in a test. Some of the key points are:

  • Make Notes: Creating and sharing notes is a wonderful plan to study for a test. Whatever you have studied in your class, note it down in a way that you can retain it at a later stage. With new mind mapping tools, you can easily take down notes and later convert the same into highly-engaging mind maps.
  • Create Mind Maps: Mind maps have been extremely effective in preparing for tests. Go ahead and create a mind map for your subject. Add different subtopics and try to find connections between them. Such mind maps will come in handy right before your test when you must quickly glance at the important topics of the given subject.
  • Group Study: Studies have shown that students who study in a group tend to be more creative and productive. If the real-time group study is not possible, access the real-time collaboration feature of EdrawMind and share the mind map with your peers. Ask them to add some pointers and help you find new connections between different subtopics.
  • Mock Tests: Mock tests are considered a great way to prepare oneself for a test. Based on your mind map and group studies discussion, try to partake in as many mock tests as possible. These mock tests should cover all the areas of the syllabus and will help you understand the points that need a second revision from your end.
  • Pain Points: As the name suggests, pain points are the specific problems one faces while studying or giving mock tests. After you have your mock test results with you, try to understand the areas where you lacked. Once you know the areas that need revision or a second-time viewing, update your mind map and work on it till you have mastered the affecting topics.

Mind Map Helps To Study for a Test

In order to help you understand the importance of creating a mind map to study for tests, we have laid out a couple of mind map templates that are created in EdrawMind. These mind map templates will give you an idea as to why students should create them before any big test.

Physics Mind Map:

We all know physics is a tricky subject requiring much expertise. The subject is so vast that it is humanly impossible to cover all the aspects in one single go. From different laws to classifications, interactions, and theories, physics has a universe of its own. If a student creates normal notes or studies from books, chances are that they may not get the desired time before their test.

As you can see here, we create a mind map to outline the important areas in physics that a student can study for a test. With free mind map software, one can add multiple subtopics and learn about the connection they have with one another. For instance, this particle physics mind map shows how gravitation has a ‘range’ for electromagnetic waves. At the time of the test, students can quickly look at these connections and implement them accordingly.

Environment and Ecology:

Environment and ecology is a very important and vast topic to cover in a night. As you know, environment refers to the different interactions between physical, chemical, and biological components. In comparison, ecology depicts the complexities of the relationship between different organisms and their respective environment.

Given the complexity of these two areas, it is highly recommended to make a mind map. As you can see from the attached environment and ecology mind map, students can easily learn about Aquatic Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Pollution, EIA, Climate Change, and more. With a mind map, students can even map out different relationships between organisms and their environment. Such crucial information comes in handy when the students are studying for a test related to the environment and ecology.

Ireland 1912-1949:

Ireland is an island in north-western Europe with a current population of around 7 million, with 5.1 million people living in the Republic of Ireland. Students studying geography or history tend to create mind maps that outline important events about a country.

As you can see from the Ireland mind map, we have added the historic event between 1912 and 1949. Students studying Ireland and its history can see that in this mind map, we have added about Easter Rising of 1916, the War of Independence, Treaty Negotiations, the Civil War, the Bombing of Belfast, the Home Rule Crisis of 1912-1914, and more. In order to elaborate on these topics in detail, we added multiple subtopics to them. As a student, one can easily find connections between these topics, and before going for the history test, one can study this mind map or create a similar one that will outline their related topic.

These templates can easily be duplicated or customized with this free mind-mapping software. Students can download this tool and start working on the desired mind maps that they might need to help them study for a test.

Final Thoughts

Tests can be tough and sound tougher if the students are not well prepared. One might undertake different approaches to studying for a test correctly, and creating a mind map is one of them. A mind map is a great tool for brainstorming, idea sharing, and learning new ways to find connections between different topics. With tools like EdrawMind, students can easily create a mind map to study for a test or collaborate with their classmates for group study. With the built-in features of this free mind map tool, students can even print out the mind map and carry it with them as they go to take the test.