5 Steps For Final Exam Prep (in order)

With my finals being less than a week away, I thought I would break down how I study for these tests.

Finals can really help your grade (duh). If you are currently close to the letter grade above you, they can be what pushes you over top. Conversely, however, they can also bump you down a letter grade if you teetering on the edge, say low 70’s, 80’s, etc. It is also important to take these tests seriously because the act of studying for and taking a comprehensive exam will solidify what you have learned in a course, preparing you for the following course in the sequence if there is one.

5 Steps For Final Exam Prep (in order):

• Learn as much as you can about what will be on test. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers for an idea of what to study. Also, if you’ve been skipping class (shame on you) then you should go to the last few classes because the teacher may discuss what is on the final. Note: Learn as much as you can about what is on final, but DO NOT try guessing what will be on the test. If you are unsure if something will be on the exam, study it anyways.

• Make an outline  of study material. It doesn’t have to look pretty. Just going over the notes and writing down main topics will help organize the ideas in you head.

• Start studying early. Everyone knows this, but few actually do it. However, it makes a BIG difference. You’ll feel less anxious about the material and the moe nights you sleep after learning something and reviewing it a little each day the better you remember/ understand it.

• Study in short sessions.  Our attentions spans are short. After about 20 minutes we tend to get side tracked in thought, whether we realize it or not. By telling ourselves that we will only study for 25 minutes we are more likely to sit down and start studying. Starting is the hardest part. After 25 minutes you can either take a 5 minute break or study for another 25 minutes then take a 5 minute break. After every two 25 minute sessions, however, be sure to take a 5 – 10 minute break. Also, during the break avoid going on your phone. Your phone is like a black hole that can just suck up all your valuable study time if you are on it too long. It is all too easy for a 5 minute break on social media to turn into a 50 minute one. For the timing technique, I use the app Forest. The app will plant a tree for every 25 minute session, and the cute little tree will die if you try accessing your phone before 25 minutes is up. Note: Using th app means keeping your phone near you while you study, something that should be avoided if possible. So, if you can try using a watch to keep time instead.

• The night before the test it is much better to get  at least 5 hours of sleep than to drink a red bull and cram. Seriously, if you are trying to learn material the night before it is not going to stay in ou head very well and it will really stress you out. Try to have at least two nights of sleep between learning the material and being tested on it if possible. When you sleep, you brain is still awake organizing and sorting through what you learned that day.The importance of sleep cannot be understated.