Hoping to finish out the semester strong? Odds are, you’re doing more than just hoping– you’ve been hitting the books. Or maybe you haven’t– hey, it happens. Regardless of where you’re at in the studying process as those final exams draw nearer, below are five techniques that might just make the journey a little easier (and more fun, believe it or not.)

The Cornell Method

Sometimes referred to as Cornell Notes or Cornell Note Taking, the Cornell Method is precisely what its alternate names suggest– a way of taking notes. It’s more than just that, though; it’s a whole new way to organize and unpack your knowledge of a topic. Cornell notes consist of three sections: a cue column, a notes column, and a summary section. To learn more, check out this breakdown of creating the perfect Cornell notes, which can be used on virtually any subject or topic you can think of.

SQ3R

This one’s known as SQRRR, if you’re feeling fancy; in short, it the acronym stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. As the University of St. Augustine explains (in addition to providing a helpful infographic of study tips for students to save), SQ3R allows you to engage in more intentional and structured recalling of content, helping to highlight the most important concepts from each chapter or unit you’re looking back on. Of course, SQ3R is hardly the only acronym worth consulting when it comes to studying; you might also benefit from the PQRST or REAP methods.

Mind Maps

Bidisha Das of The College Post offers a list of several tried-and-true, science-backed study strategies to help you ace that test. Near the top of the list, you’ll find a brainstorming method that’s helped countless students do everything from structuring essays to planning out group projects. Though it’s often used in contexts such as these, they can also be used for connecting the various components of key ideas together and finding connections between different concepts to help jog your memory when it comes time to recall.

Nighttime Studying

No, not cramming in the early hours of the morning– rather, taking the time to review your notes just before going to bed. Dr. Ann Dolin writes in ADDitude that particularly for those struggling with ADHD, cramming is a poor studying method; however, studying shortly before you sleep (ideally, at a reasonable time so that you can get those precious seven to nine hours) each night will help you retain information better, as some studies have suggested that our brains process this information as we sleep.

The Feynman Technique

Nobel-prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman is the mind behind this strategy for cementing information that we’ve learned. The key element in the Feynman Technique is teaching the topic to others, or at least to an imaginary “audience”, as the University of Colorado Boulder explains. Of course, you have to study the topic first, and once you’re through with learning it yourself and attempting to teach someone else, it’s time to fill in the gaps; focus on things you missed or struggled with to get the most out of your study session.