Sometimes the best way to learn is not by advice or observation but through experience. After having been warned about the stress of mid-terms and final exams from upperclassmen friends, older siblings, and every college movie ever, I still figured I wouldn’t have too much trouble. I made it through high school with relative ease, and I had gotten through the semester thus far believing I understood the material in class, so I felt like I was in a good position. However, as I soon was 4 days out from the test, anxiety set in. I didn’t know where to start as far as studying, and sadly, a number of tears were shed. Through the help of my peers, family and teachers, I recognized my weak points and re-evaluated my approach. Below are some snippets of advice that I found truly helpful in my situation.
Talk to Your Teacher/TA.
Everyone says office hours are crucial for forming a lasting impact with your professors. I would say office hours are important for another reason as well. Not only can teachers help if there is concept trouble as you approach the exam, but many of the teachers here have years of experience dealing with students. If you are spiraling out of control with test anxiety, believe it or not, most teachers will show sympathy. While it is not in their job description to parent you, most of them are parents and all were students at some point, so they know exactly what you are going through and how to handle stress. Who knows, if they see you putting forth effort, they might even be a bit kinder when assessing final grades.
Call Home.
Whether you call home nearly every day, check off your weekly scheduled call, or haven’t spoken to you parents in weeks, the best time to open an honest dialogue with your parents is definitely during exam preparation. At that point, you can update you family on your feelings of preparation, or lack thereof, and seek out advice. By being honest with how you feel about the test and letting your family know what you expect grade wise, there will be no surprises at the end of the semester with grades. In some cases, parents may even have helpful advice and strategies. If nothing else, a familiar voice is always helpful to calm the nerves.
Take Breaks.
You might have the urge to hide away and clock as many study hours as possible before a major exam, but with total immersion, one can reach their breaking point. It is very important to give yourself mental breaks and physical distractions throughout the studying process. Take time to walk and listen to music without thinking, grab a latte for study snacking, and DEFINITELY exercise. A study break work out does not have to be intense, but it just needs to be separate to allow for some relief.
Stop Studying.
At some point you will absorb as much as you can. Even if you study right up until the exam, the chances of getting a perfect score are, unfortunately, unlikely. By the day before the exam, you should be reviewing the big picture concepts and only looking at nitty gritty topics that you need a little more work on. This is not the time to re-invent the wheel and re-read the entire textbook. By the day of, you need to relax, breathe, get fresh air, eat healthily, and do anything but hardcore study. Sure look at a few key formulas or names and dates, but if at this point you are still writing flash cards, stop and relax.
In the end, a test is just a test, and there is always time to get better. Your mental health is more important than a class that can be re-taken.