The National Bible Bee Competition qualifying test is already coming up so soon! As you prepare, remember to keep your eyes on the Lord and focus on the amazing things that you learn through the study, things that will stay with you eternally. If you’ve never taken the qualifying test before, you may feel a little overwhelmed as you prepare, but taking it step by step and knowing what your priorities are when studying will be a huge help. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare. Know that different strategies work for everyone, so it’s important to assess what may help you the most. Also included are some quick tips on how to organize your studying if you’re short on time as well! We hope these are a help to you!
Something that is very important to start with is to keep reading through your Discovery Journal and set times and days to review certain sections. Always keep some writing tools in hand while you do this–highlighting, underlining, and making notes will give you something to go back and look at and help you decide what to focus on next with your studying. Maybe you’re very hands on and writing some questions and studying facts on flashcards is something that will help you quickly memorize and retain information. You can also find a family member or friend to quiz you directly from the Discovery Journal or your flashcards!
Your memory passages are also important when you take the qualifying test, and content, context, and their relation to the theme of the summer study may be tested on. Keep reviewing these and maintaining your ability to recite them quickly in your head while taking the test, as this will help you answer content related questions. If you have the time, read what comes before and after your memory passage and create some summary statements to help you remember what occurs before and after. Having a notebook or document that dedicates some space to each passage may be useful to have it all in one place.
And don’t forget about the summer study passage! Make some time to read and listen to the study passage. You can split this up throughout your day or create a specific schedule. Maybe doing some focused reading of a chapter or two to start your day and then listening here and there as you go about your day, and then reading another chapter or two at night is something that works for you. Just like when reading the Discovery Journal, having some tools to mark with flashcards and a notebook to take notes may be helpful. If you have the time, creating an outline for the different sections from Genesis 1-5 and having short titles and summaries for each small section will help you answer some test questions regarding specific verses, sections, or events on the Qualifying Test.
Also, take a look at the cross-references list on your dashboard and create time to study them as best as you can. These will be tested on, so it is important to familiarize yourself with them. Try creating summaries of the content and how it relates to the study (oftentimes you can figure this out through the theme of the verse or flip through your Discovery Journal to see what the topic of the day is or what it says when referencing the verse) and summaries of the context as well, just like with your memory passages. Copying the passages into a document and printing them is a great way to have all of them together to read through, take notes, or highlight/underline important things to know in the verse. How in-depth you go is up to you and what works best for your study priorities and time!
It’s a great idea to prepare by taking practice tests and quizzes. Not only does this help to test your knowledge and assess where you’re at in your test preparation, but it will solidify knowledge and is a great way to learn many new things. Keep an eye out on the NBB social community, where many parents, participants, host, and alumni post practice questions and quizzes. It’s also important to get some practice in with taking the test under a time limit, and can simulate some of the intensity of test day so that you feel more prepared and hopefully less nervous when you click start.
And, as mentioned, here’s some tips to give you some ideas on how to organize your studying schedule as you prepare for the Qualifying Test, especially if you are short on time!
#1. Create small and simple goals that lead into larger end goals and milestones. This will keep you more motivated, as you are completing more things and moving along at a more consistent pace while working toward a bigger accomplishment.
#2. When you can’t sit to study, listen instead. One way to make the most of your time is to download audio files of the study passage or the memory passages. Whether you are on a drive, walking from one place to another, doing chores, eating a meal, etc, you can still get in some study time! There are several apps you can find, and you can even record yourself reading and reciting and play it back! Even if you cannot solely focus on the passages, it will be so much easier to learn when you are focused on it, because your brain has heard it several times and begun to commit it to memory.
#3. Set a schedule customized to you. Maybe you’re an early bird and have no problem getting up early to increase the time you have in your day. Set aside a consistent time of day and duration to work on your Discovery Journal, review study materials, read through passages, or get some memorizing done.
#4. Try to limit distractions for the times you are able to devote to studying. This can mean turning off electronic devices (or only utilizing specific apps and notifications when you’re studying with a device), removing items that can be distracting, and finding a quiet place to go if it is difficult to focus.
#5. Keep meditating on the Word when you study, even if you’re short on time. You will find your studies to be all the more rewarding and productive if it is based on the desire to ultimately learn more about the Lord and His Word. Digging into Scripture will encourage and motivate you to keep going!
Okay, that was a lot! We hope it is a help and a resource to you during your test preparation. There are many other ideas out there, but this is just a summary of some important things to keep in mind! As mentioned, the social community always contains great resources and tips, as well as a way to connect with other NBB families across the county, so make sure to check it out!
Finally, remember that everyone’s schedule and learning style is different. Finding a schedule and routine that works for you may take some trial and error, but remember that it all pours into creating great study habits that ultimately result in giving glory to God!
Written by NBB Alumna: Emma Fernandez
