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Mar 18, 2024 · What makes finals different from other exams? Rather than focusing on a specific topic of study, finals are designed to be cumulative – they test your knowledge from across the whole semester or year. As a result, not everything that you study will end up being covered in the final test.
- Ronald Watkins
- Begin Early, at Least One Month in Advance 🗓️ Raise your hand if you’re tired of the chaotic scramble to study right before exams. What if we told you there’s a way to make studying less painful and more effective? 🤔
- Create a Finals Game Plan 📋 You have a clear study plan, know what and when to study, and break down lessons into manageable, focused sessions. Sounds like a pretty good tip for finals, right? ⏲️
- Change up Your Study Space 🏞️ Find the perfect study spot (and change it occasionally) to improve your retention and focus. Another fun tip to acing your finals: mix it up by studying in various rooms at home, alternating between your usual learning spot, the library, your favorite cafe, and even the local park. ☕
- Allocate More Time to Your Toughest Classes 🕰️ Conquering complex, hair-pulling subjects demands a focused strategy. But no need to stress. 🧠 Tackle the troublesome subjects first, and then breeze through the relatively easier ones right after to focus your energy on the topics where you struggle most.
May 25, 2021 · Questions & Answers. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. References. Co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD. Last Updated: May 25, 2021 References. There are a number of ways to help improve final exam test scores without staying up all night and cramming.
- Overview
- Preparing to Study
- Studying Efficiently
- Studying Techniques
- Managing Stress
Studying for final exams can be a stressful period, especially if you're struggling to find the time or the willpower to put in the necessary work. However, managing stress while also achieving top notch grades is very doable if you can figure out study techniques and routines that work for you. Here are some suggestions that can help you to study both effectively and efficiently.
Create an effective and realistic study schedule.
Start studying well in advance so you have plenty of time.
Study the material in 20-50 minute blocks.
Go over your notes, assignments, textbooks, and review materials.
Put together a study group to help you stay on task.
Before you begin studying, it is important to identify what your goals are. Set a target grade for each exam and think about what you will need to do to achieve that grade.
Be realistic; consider how well you've been doing all year, how good your understanding of the material is and window of time you have to study.
Don't set your goals too low either. Try to push yourself and set your mind to achieving your full potential.
Making an effective and realistic study plan is a vital component of doing well in your finals. By planning out your study, you can ensure that you will have all the necessary materials covered by the time the exams roll around, thus minimizing stress and maximizing productivity. Here are some things you will need to consider:
Create a time chart of your current activities. Factor in classes, work, time spent with family and friends, etc. This will allow you to see how much free time you have available for study.
Develop a study schedule that works with your timetable. Use time between classes, commute time and any other free time to slot in some extra study. Keep in mind that an hour of study every day will be more productive than a 5-hour block once a week.
Study in 20-50 minute blocks.
If you try to study for long periods of time, you will tire easily and your studying will not be very effective. It's much better to study in short 20-50 minute bursts, as during this short space of time you will be able to concentrate fully, thus maximizing the amount of information you absorb.
After 20-50 minutes studying a particular topic, take a quick 5-10 minute break and then move on to another topic. This way you will stay fresh and won't get bored of the material.
To use this method of studying, you will need to break down your study material into small, easily-digestible chunks. If you give yourself too much material to cover in such a short space of time you will not be able to learn the material properly.
Image-word association works by relating an unknown term or concept to an image you are already familiar with. Associating the unfamiliar material with something you already know can help you to remember that material much more easily, especially if you are a very visual person. As a simple example, if you are trying to remember the term "dogma", try picturing a Golden Retriever every time you hear it!
An acronym is a word in which each individual letter stands for another word or term, making a list of words easier to remember. You can make your own acronyms by taking the first letter of a list of words or phrase and arranging them in such a way that they form another word that's easy to memorize. The best example of an acronym that is used in everyday speech is ASAP, which stands for "as soon as possible".
Eat healthy and get some exercise.
The importance of healthy eating and exercise during intense periods of study cannot be understated. Eating right will give you more energy and help to keep you more alert during study sessions, while exercise can help you to clear your head and work out the stress.
Try to eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg, lean protein and filling, complex carbs at mealtimes, and try cereal and granola bars or a handful of nuts or raisins for healthy snacks. Avoid sugary snacks which will cause you to crash.
In terms of exercise, try to incorporate 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine, whether it's something fun like a dance class or football game, or something as simple as a walk outside.
- Grace Fleming
- Science Says Start Early. There are many recent studies that show that it is important to study in stages. The findings say that it's best to start early and give your brain a rest, then study again.
- Establish a Study Group or Partner. Schedule at least one meeting time with a study partner or study group. If you absolutely can’t get together, then exchange email addresses.
- Use Old Tests. Collect your old exams from the year (or semester) and make a photocopy of each one. Whiteout the test answers and copy each one again. Now you have a set of practice tests.
- Build Up Your Class Notes. Organize your notes by date (do the best you can if you didn’t date your pages) and make note of any missing dates/pages. Get together with a study partner or group to compare notes and fill in any missing material.
Follow our ultimate studying guide, and earn a top grade on your final exams. 1. Make a finals game plan. If you plan out your study sessions (for ALL your exams), you’ll get a better handle on how much work you’re facing. Use the calendar on your phone to set alerts and reminders for yourself so you stick to your plan. 2. Start early.
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Jun 4, 2019 · 1. Find out what’s on the test as early as possible. Ideally, find out what material will be on your final exam at least three weeks before the test. If your teacher hasn’t made that info available yet, ask him or her in advance. 2. Gather your materials.
