By Tiffany Hu:
Finally, the awakening of summer has arrived. No longer are winter coats needed, and birds are chirping their happy tunes. The weather is finally starting to feel warm, and the arrival of summer is in the air. You're almost finished with school, and you can't wait to get out of here and into your three months of paradise. But, then you realize the obstacle you have to overcome to reach the gates of summer vacation: FINALS.
No need to stress though.
I've gathered some advice from students who have "already done it" and they would sure help to know when studying for finals! After all, they are quite advanced in this field of study.
Here are 15 tips on preparing for finals:
1. MAKE A STUDY PLAN:
Make a plan for each class, detailed with what you'll do each time you study and when you're going to study.
It helps to divide everything in chunks, since some classes may require more studying than others, so mapping it all out allows you to dedicate an appropriate amount of time.
Make sure to have time to study for each and every subject.
2. STUDY IN ADVANCE: AKA DO NOT PROCRASTINATE UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE!
This is often the worst mistake that you'll make.
Cramming everything the night before will not only make you lose sleep, but you won't remember much since you'll be too tired.
Give yourself at least 2 weeks in advance to study...the earlier you start preparing, the better!
3. QUALITY SLEEP ARE A MUST:
Remember that we are human beings and sleep is necessary. A good night sleep will make your mood better and make you feel refreshed.
All-nighters are not worth it; they only make you feel miserable and confused when taking the actual test.
It is crucial to get at least 8 hours of sleep before each day if finals...it really helps!
4. REVIEW YOUR OLD TESTS AND QUIZZES:
Most of the questions will probably be in the same format as your pasts tests and quizzes, so it will definitely help if you look back at them and study! This will also allow you to pinpoint areas/concepts you might need to spend more time studying on.
Help refresh your memories, especially for things you learned months ago!
5. GO OVER ALL YOUR NOTES:
This is extremely important; after all, you are basically tested on what's in your notes.
It helps to write down key points while reviewing your notes.
Don't just skim over your notes, actually read them!
6. FLASHCARDS ARE A HUGE HELP:
Quizlet is a great source.
Try making your own opposed to using pre-made flashcards; it will allow you to remember better.
7. STUDY IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS:
Try to diversify the places you chose to study. Your bedroom can get a bit annoying after a while. Here are some alternative study spaces:
* Belmont Books
* Belmont Public Library
* A coffee shop sort of setting
Make sure that you study alone and with your friends!
8. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FINALS GRADE DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR LIFE:
Don't stress too much! This is only a single grade from a dozen others.
A bad grade on the finals does not mean you will go from an A to an F...that's basically impossible.
Don't pressure yourself into getting a particular grade so that your overall grade will reach a specific grade; it will only add more stress and a bigger chance of not doing as well as you want.
9. YOUR TEACHERS ARE HAPPY TO HELP:
Don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help!
You're teachers probably have some great resources and tips on how to study, so there's no risk in asking!
10. TAKE STUDY BREAKS:
Go for a walk, eat a snack, take a quick nap...give your brain a rest!
It might actually help you remember things more and make you feel freshen up.
11. DO THE STUDY GUIDES YOUR TEACHERS GAVE YOU:
DO. THE. STUDY. GUIDES.
They are probably going to be the closest thing to the actual test, and that's some crucial information.
As much as it may be a really thick stack of stapled sheets, it's definitely going to be worth it in the end!
12. FIGURE OUT WHICH SUBJECTS THAT MIGHT REQUIRE MORE STUDYING:
Know what to prioritize early on. If you know you've struggled with one class more than the others, spend more time studying for that class.
Do not keep studying what you know you already know; it doesn't get you anywhere!
It's super important to solidify the concepts within the individual subjects that you may need to study more for!
13. DO PRACTICE TESTS AND PROBLEMS FROM ONLINE AND YOUR TEXTBOOKS:
This is the time you crack open that textbook that has been laying in your room for the past few months!
You can make your own tests to practice with or surf the web. It really helps to get yourself into the zone and how it may feel when you're actually testing.
Most practice problems in the textbooks have answers at the end (most likely odd numbers), so it's an excellent source for studying and extra practice!
14. GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS WHILE STUDYING:
As much as we all love our electronics, it's best if we put them out of sight while studying.
* Put them in another room.
* Do not disturb mode.
We all love good tea, but it would be bad tea if you get a not so good grade on the finals because you were distracted.
15. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF:
Believe that we will do well and that you took the test and did your best. In the end, that's all that matters!
Confidence is key.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Lara Zeng, Anjali Ramakrishnan, Deniz Dutton, Brogan Madden, Cody Scarfo, Liz Biondo, Divya Natarajan, Feronia Mei, Gwyneth Ruban, Kat Cosic, Kat Westermark, Kiara Santos, Kripa Paudel, Leah Babroudi, Mindee Lai, Gilchrist Imboywa, and Nena Trifunovic