The University of Ottawa’s Guide to… Final Exams
The final exam season is officially upon us. As students, we are expected to stuff everything we have learned this semester into our heads and regurgitate all that information during a three-hour final examination. Scary stuff? Perhaps. Surmounted? Definitely! While final exams may be frightening, there are some important things to remember before you sit down to determine the fate of a university course.
The first and most important thing to remember is that a final exam is not worth your tears. While final exams may be worth a large chunk of your final grade, no exam is worth crying over. By following some key do’s and don’t, before and during your exam, success will be inevitable.
Pre-exam
1. Since final exams only occur over a short period of two weeks, it is very important to balance your time effectively and efficiently. Writing five exams in two weeks is busy and difficult, but in order to succeed, studying must be done in advance. Cramming for an exam is hardly effective and can unfortunately result in forgetting information on the day of the exam, or even completely blanking! Give yourself at least a week to start reviewing before an exam, and at least three days before fully going over the material. Giving yourself the time necessary will let all the information properly sink in your mind. Nobody wants to hand in a blank exam!
2. Finding a good study space is very important. This could be the library, your room, a coffee shop, or the living room. Regardless of where it is, it must work for you. Some people find themselves more productive in a completely quiet space, while others need some background noise. Make sure to test out different locations in order to find the best location that works for you.
3. Make sure to actually sleep before the day before your exam. Writing a three-hour exam on less than three hours of sleep is not that smart! Your body needs rest in order to properly function, so make sure to get a sufficient amount of zzz’s before a final exam.
Exam Day
The dreadful day has come. You are expected to sit in a classroom or in the gym for three hours and hash out all you have learned this semester. Don’t fret. Three hours can go by pretty fast.
1. Make sure you know where your exam will be and arrive in advance, being late for a university exam is definitely not a great start to getting a good grade. If you are not familiar with campus yet, check out the building where your exams will be held to ensure you are not stressing about location on top of all the knowledge you have memorized !
2. Do not forget to bring your student card. While it may seem pretty stupid, most of the teachers will check your student card and make you sign a sheet to confirm your attendance and identity, especially if you are in a 200 or more students’ class. No one wants to be turned down from writing an exam just because of a student card !
3. While we all love our caffeine, make sure not to drink four cups of coffee before an exam. Not only will your find yourself shaking in your seat, but you will have to use the washroom about six times in three hours. Having water by your side is very important though. While you may not want to drink your weight in water during an exam, staying hydrated is extremely important.
4. Bringing some brain food can also be helpful. While smelly foods might annoy your neighbours, bringing a granola bar or a banana is not a bad idea. Your brain needs nourishment in order to fully function, so remember to feed yourself!
5. Ensure that you have everything necessary to complete the exam on your table, such as sharpened pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil led, pens, highlighters and calculators if permitted. Having a couple extra pens by your side is definitely helpful if you are writing several essays.
While final examinations may be frightening – especially for first years – they are completely surmountable. By studying in advance, getting lots of sleep the night before, and adequately preparing yourself the day of the exam, you will do fine. Just remember: no exam is worth crying over! Best of luck on this semester’s final exams!
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