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  • Essay / The Importance of Cramming - 707

    Cramming is a well-established habit among a wide range of individuals. This term simply means “packing” or preparing for an impending task in a hasty and intensive manner (Merriam-Webster, 2013). Young or old, diligent or unenthusiastic, all kinds of people may have encountered this activity at least once in their life. However, in different niches, opinions about cramming are divided. In the academic world, especially among students, it is usually difficult to decide whether to cram or not. It has already been adopted by students despite the constant dissuasive studies carried out there. Although some students think that cramming saves them time and allows them to perform well, cramming actually wastes time and is not an effective learning tool in the long term. Students usually cram a few days before their exams or a few hours before their deadline. As a result, they are forced to work faster than normal. In these circumstances, they may be able to completely ignore everything else, demonstrating focus and determination in order to complete their tasks on time. Weeks of lessons can accumulate in a brain in a single night. Dissertations can be completed in just a few hours. These could take longer if enough time has been allocated. The intensity and time pressure imposed by cramming can be used to our advantage. The ability to use as little time as possible to focus on one area of ​​learning can be considered an advantage of cramming (W. Sommer, 1990). Therefore, students may be able to complete multiple tasks in a short period of time. This can work well with busy students and procrastinators. Another strength of cramming is reflected in its ability to allow students to catch up when they are in the middle of a sheet of paper......long term memory. McIntyre and Munson (2008) state that “students who take a more methodical approach to their studies retain significantly more learned material to draw on in their later courses.” Additionally, the cramming process repeats itself when the same type of situation arises in the future, hence leading to wastage of time. The pitfalls of cramming clearly outweigh its benefits. Although cramming promises short-term benefits, it is virtually useless in the long term. Cramming is only a temporary solution and should not be used for recurring problems. If the use of cramming is limited to problems requiring immediate action and a different, more effective strategy is applied in other situations, then everyone's time and efforts are maximized. In summary, cramming should be avoided as much as possible because it is not only inferior to other strategies but also wastes valuable time..