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August 3, 2025

Don’t Cram for Exams: This Low-stress, Slow-Prep Method Might Be All You Need According to Stephen A. Johnson

Don’t Cram for Exams This Low-stress, Slow-Prep Method Might Be All You Need According to Stephen A. Johnson
Photo Courtesy: Stephen A. Johnson / UCLA School of Management

When exams are near, a lot of students start to pull all-nighters, burning the midnight oil, in an attempt to memorize everything they’ve learned over the previous few months. The panic associated with the upcoming exams sends them into cramming to avoid failure and overcome the feeling of uncertainty. Unfortunately, when the exams come, they are too exhausted, too confused, and too burnt out to make anything out of their endless cramming sessions.

This makes one wonder, if cramming isn’t effective, why are so many people doing it?

The answers could vary. For some, they see it is the only option. Others enjoy the productive feeling they get when immersed in cramming sessions, but neither of these groups seems to experience significant rewards for their stress.

The reason is simple: a great deal of information crammed at the last minute doesn’t make it to the testing room, and if you can even remember any, it would likely be inconsistent. The reason is not hard to understand; cramming builds pressure and anxiety, and distracts you from the task at hand: high-level performance. Instead, all you can think about is not forgetting what you crammed. As a result, most students become emotionally and mentally overwhelmed by the time they reach the exam room.

If cramming for a school test isn’t bad enough, cramming for standardized exams like the ACT and SAT may set you up for challenges. These standardized tests focus on other deeper skills. They check a student’s logical abilities, reasoning, and comprehension. If these skills are lacking, then the exam prep is likely to be ineffective.

So, what’s the secret to effective exam preparation?

It is called the ‘Slow-prep method.’

The slow-prep method, developed by expert SAT and ACT tutor Stephen Johnson, involves planned, focused, and consistent preparation for an upcoming examination.

The slow-prep approach focuses on measurable, consistent efforts over a long period of time. It prioritizes structured learning and practice routines, mindset-building to boost confidence and reduce anxiety, and periodic feedback for improvement.

Slow-prep isn’t just a catchy term coined by Stephen—it is supported by science and psychology.

Research in the field of educational psychology indicates that active learning and spaced repetition, as is the case with slow-prep, produce deeper levels of understanding than massed study sessions, also known as cramming. Additionally, students tend to have better recall, retain more, and feel more at ease when they learn in low-pressure environments.

From practicality to the science behind it, slow-prep is a well-researched approach to standardized test prep.

The inventor of the slow-prep methodology has created a platform driven by the approach, designed to help students engage in flexible, personalized, and stress-free test prep. AptivPrep is an AI-powered platform that provides students with guided study plans, brief, engaging lessons, AI-driven assessment and feedback, as well as a success roadmap.

AptivPrep is an embodiment of many of the successful strategies Stephen used as a private tutor to help his students achieve high SAT scores, supported by the intuitiveness of AI, making this knowledge accessible to students globally.

The slow-prep method is a massive perspective shift that helps students take charge of their studies, and by extension, their future, with confidence, clarity, and a sense of calm.

Slow-prep is not slow. It prepares the best, low-pressure study strategy to match your preparation time. It manages your time, strategizes your studies, establishes a routine, supports in-depth learning, and reduces stress and pressure.

AptivPrep is the go-to platform for a slow-prep study approach that is effective.

Visit AptivPrep.com to experience the potential of coordinated, strategic preparation in transforming exam performance. You can connect with Stephen at +1 (310) 617-4183

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