Don't Procrastinate. Don't Cram. Students should give themselves enough time to study. Don't procrastinate! It's best to begin preparing long before the day of a test. Make it a habit to complete reading assignments on time and frequently review lecture notes. If you're preparing for mid-term or final exams, you'll want to organize your time so you can dedicate more time to those exams that are more important or are going to be more demanding.