7 Ways to Prepare for Finals

By Abigail Reyes on February 25, 2014

 

With finals just around the corner, you really want to get a head start by studying and preparing early on. You might think that by studying early you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself, but this is not the case. When you start preparing early for your exams, you are actually avoiding stress because you know that you have time to learn the material and are not pressured by time. This means that by the time you get to finals week, you will already know all, if not most of the material, while the rest of the student population is stressing out and pulling all-nighters as they try to cram the night before the exam.

Don’t let the stress get to you. Here are some ways you can prepare for your exams and get ready for finals week.

 

1.    Plan ahead. Depending on which test comes first, and how hard you think it is going to be, decide which subjects you will need to spend more time reviewing. Know what subjects you are going to study and at what time, when you are going to eat and at what time you are going to sleep. Stock-up of snacks and water, do your laundry in advance and do anything that you have to get done in advance before finals week.

 

2.    Get organized. Make yourself a calendar in which you outline a daily schedule of topics for review. Make sure you have your books, handouts and notes in one place and in the order that you need to study them.

 

3.    Make flashcards. Flashcards are great because by writing down information you are already studying, plus you can use them to quiz yourself on the go. Use them to write down important terms, concepts or formulas.

 

4.    Take a practice exam. If your teacher doesn’t provide a practice exam, write your own exam. As you’re studying, write down questions that you think might show up on the exam and use them to test yourself. That way, you’ll feel much more prepared for the real thing.

 

5.    Just say No. Say no to people who want to take up your time with unnecessary activities. Say no to any distractions. Even if your friends mean no harm, you have to do what you have to do. Remember, it will pay off in the end.

 

6.    Take care of yourself. The last thing you want is to get sick around finals week. Avoid foods that you know make you feel tired, and instead stock up on healthy snacks. To relax, try taking 10-15 minute breaks between subjects and go for a walk. And most importantly, get some rest. A lack of sleep can increase your number of mistakes on the exam. Plus, nothing is worse than missing your 8 a.m. final because you pulled an all-nighter trying to cram for your exam.

 

7.    Have some fun. Make some time to relax and blow off steam by doing something fun with your friends. Taking an hour or two to get away from the stress is always a good thing, especially if stressed-out roommates surround you. Plus, it will make you feel reenergized when you get back to studying.

 

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