Final exams can cause an extreme amount of stress for students, especially in high school when you may have five or six that you must prepare for. With finals beginning next Thursday, June 7th, it’s a great idea to start studying now. A good rule of thumb is 15 minutes a night per subject.
The following are some helpful tips that could reduce some of that stress and ensure that you are prepared for your exams:
- Create your own study guide. While many teachers provide a study guide, creating your own can help you understand the material better. Outlining the important information you need to learn can be helpful, both in creating and to refer to during your studies.
- Ask questions. Your teachers are there to help. Ask them questions regarding the material and the exam so that you’re prepared when exam time arrives.
- Attend the review session. Review sessions offer vital information on exam format, what will be on the exam and key concepts you should be focusing your studies on.
- Start early. Now would be good time. If you always start ahead of schedule, you’ll never be cramming the night before an exam. You’ll almost always perform better in doing so.
- Organize a group study session. It can be helpful to study in groups – sometimes. Evaluate whether or not studying with others will be beneficial to the subject as well at your learning process.
- Study things not on the study guide. Study guides aren’t always comprehensive – they’re just suggestions of the main concepts to learn. Use your study guide for its intended purpose: a guide. Be sure to fill in the blanks with related information.
- Take breaks. You won’t be able to memorize or comprehend all the material at once. Balance is key – ensure that you reward learning with break times to recharge and relax.
- Stay well-rested. There’s a lot to be said about a good night’s sleep. Make sure you’re well-rested so that you can be fully focused during your exams.
- Prioritize your study time. Some exams will be more difficult than others, some you may find easier to study for. Make sure to evaluate all of your exams to consider and determine all of the involved factors so you can study accordingly.
- Study for the style of exam. If it’s multiple choice, you’ll need to know definitions and concepts. For essay exams, focus on your understanding of all the concepts presented, with examples in mind.
- Quiz yourself. If you think about and create actual exam questions, you will likely become more familiar with what you need to study and, in the meantime, familiarize yourself with the type of language that will be on the exam. Draft potential exam questions and quiz yourself so that you can set expectations of what you need to focus on.
- Re-organize your notes. Evaluate and re-organize your notes into what’s important, outline important concepts, formulas, dates, and definitions so they’re easy to understand.
- Pace yourself. Make sure you stay focused and don’t burn yourself out. A great way to do so is to pace yourself rather than opting for the dreaded all-nighter. You can easily pace yourself by following tips like starting early, creating a study schedule and taking breaks when necessary.
- Revolve your focus. Switching up your subjects is a helpful way to learn everything for your exams while preventing burnout on one topic. Make sure to switch it up before your eyes glaze over. That way, you can keep studying for longer periods of time while maintaining your focus.
- Color code it. Create a system that allows you to color code material that’s going to be on the exam by what’s most important, less important, etc. This will help you focus on the most pertinent information and prioritize the material.
- Visualize.
Remember, the earlier you prep the better. Doing a little each night will reduce the overwhelming feeling you may get when you see all that you need to do. Find an appropriate space in the house that will not let you get too relaxed. That means, not on your bed or the couch. Sit upright, put the phone away, and turn off the television. Most importantly, remember why you are doing this – to improve yourself. If you are a St. Anthony’s High School student, then you can certainly hit all the marks you deserve. Don’t sell yourself short. Good luck!
Contributions to help support this information came from the following sites:
1. Brigham Young University: Academic Success Center
2. 20 Study Strategies for Finals Week
