Study Tips for Finals
As the final day of classes is just days away, you’re likely feeling the stress of final exams approaching. The first thing to know is: you’re not alone! Almost every student is feeling overwhelmed with their workload, so trying to remain as organized and calm as possible is of the utmost importance. When beginning your studying, the first thing that you might begin with is creating a calendar. Start with inputting the times of your exams so that you can truly visualize the days ahead of you. Once you’ve completed this step, take some time to plan out your day-to-day schedule. Begin with any non-negotiable events, such as appointments, meetings, etc. Next, block out specific times to study for your respective finals. You might start with spending a significant amount of time on a given class at the beginning of your study period of that final is earlier on, but as you progress throughout the week, you should adjust your schedule according to both the date of the exam and your perceived preparedness. If you have to switch things around, no worries! Part of this process is understanding your personal progress and appropriately modifying your plans.
When you actually sit down to study, think about the materials you have for a respective class. Is it possible to make one extensive study guide that encompasses all the necessary material? It may not be, in which case it might be helpful to go unit by unit (in chronological order) and study the topic until you feel that you have mastered it. Don’t be afraid to use Quizlet and other resources to catalyze your understanding of a topic. One of the most important methods to study for finals is collaborating with others in your classes. Whether it’s over Zoom or in person, taking time to have a joint study session and talking through concepts and/or questions is extremely beneficial. Repeating information out loud helps you internalize the material and promotes a natural understanding of the material.
An additional final tip is to utilize professors’ office hours! Even if you think you have a silly or minor question to ask, attending office hours can only help better your understanding of the content. Going to office hours may also provoke you to think of other questions that you may not have originally, or even gain insight from fellow classmates. Though it can be hard, try to make studying as fun as you can! Create acronyms, have your friends quiz you, and most importantly, take a well-deserved break. Almost as important as actually studying is to strike a balance between resting and learning. Considering that you won’t be able to comprehend all of the material in one period, don’t feel bad about taking time after long periods of studying to take a breath and relax. Take a nap, scroll on TikTok, watch an episode of TV, or go outside! Engaging in these activities helps reset your mind and get you ready for another session of studying. Lastly, don’t knock on the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. Especially the night before an exam, waking up feeling refreshed rather than lethargic can make all the difference in your focus and performance abilities.
Most importantly, believe in yourself! Knowing that you are capable of performing highly on an exam, rather than doubting yourself, can sometimes make or break your attitude and ultimate score on an assessment. Remember that in a few short days you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the holiday season.
—- Grace Maline, December 2022
