Anastasia Rozakos
Final exams are just around the corner, and if you want to ace them, you need a game plan. Luckily for you, I have a foolproof (well, sorta) method for studying for exams. So, if you’re looking for some help, look no further. Here are my favorite ways to prepare for finals.
No. One
One of the most important steps for studying for exams is to start early. No, I don’t mean three weeks in advance. But seriously, don’t wait til the night before. You will stress yourself out and create a lot more problems for yourself. What I like to do instead is count the number of chapters the exam covers. Once I have that, I dedicate a chapter a day before the exam. So, if your exam covers three chapters, start studying three or four days in advance. This helps you break up your unit and makes the task seem less daunting. This method works just as well for finals, but instead of chapters, I count previous units!
No. Two
Something I have only started doing more recently is to record myself reading my notes. I use Voice Memos, and then listen to my notes throughout the day. You are able to speed yourself up or slow yourself down. By listening to my notes instead of music, I familiarize myself with the material way faster. Personally, I’ve found this to be a great way to get some extra study time.
No. Three
My biggest piece of advice is simple. Sleep. I know it can be tempting to pull an all-nighter or stay up to finish that last chapter. But trust me, it’s not worth it. Sleep helps you retain information. According to Daniel Noyed, not getting enough sleep “can affect memory processing”. So, no matter how hard you study, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, you won’t remember what you’ve learned.
Overall, finals can be a challenging time. It’s stressful, and it feels like something is coming at you from all angles. However, you can handle it. All you need is to make your game plan. I have full faith that you will ace your finals this semester and end the year strong!