How to Cram for an Exam?

If you're having trouble staying alert while you're cramming, and you have no time for sleep, drink some coffee. If you're tired right before your test, drink some more. Caffeine aids mental alertness.

You may find it easier to review with a study partner. You can quiz each other and answer each other's questions as you go along.

Eat nutritious food. It's harder to concentrate if you're loaded up on junk. Even though sugar is a fast source of energy, sugar lows happen shortly after the highs and they are hard to come off of.

Eliminate as many potential distractions as possible. If you can study without a computer, then make sure to work away from one. If your assignment is on the computer, disable the internet temporarily before you start. If you're working on the internet, (researching, etc.) then you need to exercise self-control.

Right before the test, try to get some exercise. Run up some stairs or do some jumping-jacks. Exercise gets blood flowing and relaxes you. It also increases your alertness.

Take frequent, short breaks. Breaks help you stay alert, and they can also prevent burnout.

Warnings
Sleep deprivation and excessive caffeine intake are unhealthy. Don't do this too often. Sleep deprivation can also slow your reaction time, so think twice about driving to or from class after an all-night cramming session.

Even if you do well on a test, don't expect to remember the material a couple days later. People generally learn better if they do it gradually. Cramming is really just a short-term memorization aid. If you will need to know the material later--math equations are a prime example--you'll probably need to re-review it after the test.

If you study with a partner or with a group, beware of losing focus on the task at hand. Study groups often turn into gossip fests. You may be better off studying on your own.