As the end of the year is approaching, students are starting to prepare for their final exams. While it may be a stressful time for many, a strategic plan and strong work ethic can make finals week feel much more manageable. Here are the key things to keep in mind to ensure that students can approach finals week with confidence and ace their exams.
Get Organized
Before students can even begin to crack open their textbooks, they need to plan out their study habits. They should create a schedule of how long and what subjects they plan to study each day. This will not only force students to confront their responsibilities prior to the night before the test, but it will also eliminate the need for intensive last-minute cramming sessions. By having an organized, written account of objectives for every single day leading up to the exams, it ensures students will be prepared.
Study Smarter
Many students believe that reading over a study guide or passively listening to a video is a sufficient study method. While these may be beneficial, many students have more success with active learning. This can include methods like “blurting,” where a student studies a chunk of material, writes down everything they remember, and then looks at their notes to fill in what they missed. Another useful study method is the Feynman Technique, which is where the student tries to explain the topic they are studying to someone else in simple terms. These study habits make sure students aren’t just reviewing material, but understanding and retaining it, which can make all the difference.
Mentally Prepare
For many students, finals week is the most stressful time of the school year. Between the final projects, written tests, and oral presentations, students are at their maximum capacity for learning. But all of the studying and preparation will mean nothing if a student isn’t mentally prepared to take the exams. Students should take time to prioritize at least eight hours of sleep per night because a tired brain can make retaining information much harder. Students should also keep their energy up by making smart food choices and staying away from sugary energy drinks that do more harm than good.
Lastly, students need to give themselves grace. If they’ve been studying for hours and hours, it is important that they take a break and clear their minds. They should go for a walk, work out, hang out with friends, or do any other activity that will take their minds off of their workload. Finals are stressful, but not letting them dominate students’ lives can make the week feel much easier.
While finals week is synonymous with dreaded hours of cramming, staying up late drinking Red Bull, and showing up to early morning exams half asleep, it doesn’t have to be. By following these three steps, students can be prepared for finals week before that Monday even rolls around. The students who stay organized, utilize strategic study methods, and mentally prepare are the ones who will do the best on their exams, because learning a whole year’s worth of material is definitely not something that can happen overnight. Happy studying!
Sources:
https://www.pointloma.edu/resources/undergraduate-studies/10-study-tips-surviving-finals-week
