It is time for finals again, and let’s be honest; that organized and efficient, non-procrastinating student you promised yourself to be at the beginning of the semester dropped out around the third week of class.
Chances are all of the projects and exams are starting to pile up during these final class days and you are scrambling to get enough sleep and nutrition, while also re-learning the information you neglected throughout the semester.
I hate to be pessimistic, describing students as a herd of sloths suddenly realizing they are in a race, but Facebook statuses and tweets reinforce my belief that we tend to wait until the last minute. So, here are the tips. Maybe one day they will actually sink in for all of us.
The first tip is to get rid of unnecessary commitments. Try to schedule off work and avoid social or family events to give yourself enough time to focus. In most circumstances, the people involved will understand and commend you on your academic excellence.
This also applies to research papers and other assignments that can be done in advance. With only a few days left, it is time to crack down so that whenever you need to study, that is all you will have left to do.
Study groups can also waste time if you spend the entire session explaining concepts to other people. Only form study groups with students who have a similar understanding of the subject as you.
Make a list with everything you have to do to finish the semester. Next to the tasks put an approximate amount of time each will take to complete. As you make progress, crossing things off the list will help to motivate you and also give you a boost if they do not take as long as you expected. Also rate the tasks. Not every final is equal, so neither should the study time be. The time spent studying for each should correlate with how hard the material is and how well you know it.
Study in chunks. Cramming may seem beneficial if you have not kept up with your studies so far, but studying in 20 to 50 minutes blocks will help your brain to stay focused and get the most out of the information. Changing study-spot locations can also increase focus when you feel a lull in your review session.
Know what is important. Chances are the instructor gave hints about what would be covered on the final regarding lectures, book material, quizzes and other information.
Try to visualize previous exams with the same professor to get a clear idea of the format. Use opportunities like the final review session to not only test what you know, but also answer any questions you have and to get a glimpse at how extensive the final will be.
Before each exam, be sure to get enough sleep. All-nighters and caffeine may seem like your friend while studying, but the jitters and inability to think straight will not help you to focus during the exam. To aid brain activity, listen to Mozart to stimulate both sides of the brain to encourage recall.
If you happen to be lucky enough to be able to use your notes or book for the exam, make sure you add as much explanation as possible. Read the instructions, plan your answer, and be thorough whenever possible. Pace yourself and take deep breaths. Finish the final and stay until the end of the class period to proofread, edit and add to answers.
Each student learns information at their own pace, and finals will create a different amount of stress based on your performance in the class as a whole.
Put in the right amount of effort and you will be satified with the results. There is truly something satifying about knowing you gave something your all. With the transition into summer, what else do you have to lose? Rock these finals so you can start fresh next semester.