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First things first, let’s talk about organization.

No matter how good your notes are, if they are poorly organized you will be ill equipped to revise for your next exam. It’s as simple as that. You must keep organized. Date your notes and organize them correctly in stacks. Don’t mix and match notes with other exam topics. Keep notes organized on a topic by topic and, by extension, exam by exam basis.

Keeping your notes dated is vital.

There are two reasons for this. First, dating your notes – including when you have last revised those notes – let’s you know which topic areas you haven’t studied in a while. Second, dating your notes helps you organize the notes as you have created them. This means you can progress naturally from topic to topic as you have studied them. Of course, it’s essential that you’ve organized your long-term study timetable for this to work as it should.

Next, organize the structure of your notes.

Here, we’re talking about the written / visual material on your actual notes.

Are your notes messy? Is information written down in a disorganized or even random matter?

If so, it may be time to reorient how to create notes (see below). The less messy your notes are, the easier they are to read and the faster you can glide through the topic to move onto the next – again, maximizing your study time.

There are different ways to create effective ASVAB note cards. There is no one magic bullet.

That’s because not everyone learns in the same way. Some people are more visual than others, preferring image-based memory solutions. Other people prefer written notes. Other people prefer a mix between the two. The answer, then, is this: to do what works best for you.

Even though the structure of the ASVAB note cards is up to you, the way you create material to fill in that structure is not.

Study after study shows that notes should always be written in your own words – at least as much as possible. That’s because writing material in your own words forces you to think about that material more. In other words, you’re forced to conceptualize an idea using different vocabulary. That makes your brain think more and, the more the brain thinks laterally about a topic, the more likely you are to convert short-term memory aids into long-term memory solutions. It’s those long-term memory solutions that we’re always, always attempting to create.

Of course, notes are notes. Don’t create pages and pages of material that takes forever-and-a-half to revise! Notes are small pieces of information that should trigger more information in your mind. If everything is written down, they stop becoming notes!

Of course, the same is true of images and diagrams, too.

Throughout your ASVAB test prep, you’ll invariably come across images and diagrams. Many diagrams can be found in the abstract and electronic sections of the test. Try, as best possible, to create these images / diagrams in your own inimitable way. The less copied, the better. Later in your study, try to recreate those diagrams from memory. Again, this forces you to think more and more about those images / diagrams and helps you foster, develop and grow those long-term memories.

There are three fundamental take-home points:

• The need to organize your notes
• The need to cleanly structure your study material
• The need to create that study material in an original, memorable manner

Applying these three fundamental principles maximizes your learning experience.

Creating amazing ASVAB note cards is fruitless if you don’t know how to revise those notes.

Again, there is no one magic bullet. But there are certain basic principles to follow.

One of those principles involves the regularity of your revision. You must ask yourself the following question:

Have you sat down and created a timetable, so you know when to revise those notes – not just over the next week, but over the coming weeks and months leading up to the day of your ASVAB exam?

If the answer to that question is no, then it’s time to take note!

Better grades start with better notes. But better revision creates even better grades.

When constructing your revision timetable, bear the following principles in mind:

• The need to revise newly created material one day, three days and 7 days after it has first been created.
• The need to revise that material on a weekly basis thereafter up to the day of your exam.

The point of the first rule is to solidify the material and batter it into your brain.

Subsequent repetitive revision is then not needed. You should only need to revise your study notes on a week-by-week basis. Of course, during those weeks you will be creating even more ASVAB note cards on other topics.

That’s why it’s essential that you create a detailed timetable of:

• What you will study and when
• When you plan to revise those notes

Fundamentally, the better organized you are, the better grades you will develop. It means you’re maximizing your study time and that, in turn, churns out better grades one exam day.

Creating effective ASVAB note cards is essential. Those mini study guides are goldmines from which you’ll harvest all the information you need to know to pass the ASVAB exam.

Of course, creating ASVAB note cards and flashcards is time consuming. It takes effort, often a lot of it. Many candidates for the ASVAB exam find it difficult to make the time.

That’s why we – at ASVAB Test Guide – have put together an amazing range of notes that comprehensively cover the exam. These notes follow all the principles outlined above, saving you much needed time and effort. Those notes, when coupled with our exceptional range of ASVAB practice questions, ensure you are best prepared for the needs of the 2019 exam.

In the meantime, though, get practicing! Learn how to create your own ASVAB note cards and how to maximize your learning time. The more preparation you put in, the better the grade that will result.

ASVAB Test Guide is the leading online resource to help you pass the ASVAB exam. Check back to our ASVAB blog soon for even more amazing study guides to teach you the essential skills and knowledge needed to ace the 2019 exam!