This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UWF chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
All college students across the country face one dreaded week: finals. It has the possibility of literally making or breaking the chances of you passing your courses. For most students, the stress and anxiety that comes from finals is the feeling of being unprepared. Students can avoid that feeling by careful, but simple, preparation. The key to acing your finals is to be well prepared by getting ready at least a couple of weeks before.
1. Form a priority list
What do you predict your final grades in your courses to look like before finals week?
Try to make a priority list for studying for your finals. Establishing a plan that lays out what courses you may want to focus on more should give you a great sense of self-. Think about the finals that will be your last resort in passing the course. Consider the courses that will be essential in any future career and academic goals you have. If you are a student looking to go into graduate or a professional school soon, prioritize to study for the courses that will help you be competitive when applying for these programs. Make sure to know if any of your courses will not have a final. Finally, have a good understanding of what you need to know for the exam. If necessary, visit your professors to talk about the material that will be on the final and if it is cumulative.
Having a good priority list can help establish a schedule for studying for finals. You will be able to determine if it’s only necessary for you to have a six-hour study session for a course pertaining to your major rather than spending a lot of time on a General Studies course you don’t see as a difficulty. Although you may spend varying amounts of time on your different courses, still make sure that all courses/finals get the attention that they need.
2. Determine some methods you can use in studying for your finals
Start thinking of some studying methods you want to use in preparing for finals. Many methods include rewriting notes, having group study sessions, reviewing PowerPoints or the textbook of the course, attending tutoring sessions, reviewing past exams, and/or taking the advantage of study tools within your course materials (such as self quizzes in textbooks).
Always take advantage the campus resources and do not forget to ask for help when you need it. Find the method that works best for you. Same method might not work for every final so make sure to shape your methods based on the course.
3. Establish goals within your study plan
Do you want to be able to describe every step and corresponding details of cellular respiration without any extra assistance after a good study session over the topic? Give yourself some checkpoints within your studying. Setting goals within your study plan will help in keeping you on track and notice any progress you are making. Break down those big complicated concepts into smaller and simple ideas. Create a goal of being able to outline a chapter or major topic without going back to your textbook. The smallest goals can help you stay on track and get some work done. Pace yourself.
However, do not forget to have some realistic goals in mind. Do not give yourself the goal of cramming your whole textbook within 48 hours. Also, think about the grade you want to achieve. Although it is great to achieve an “A” on your finals, do not forget that passing your exams overall is just as fulfilling. Take into consideration the effort and work you will need to put into studying to get that “A.” Of course, if you do not mind the challenge or feel confident in your understanding of the curriculum, shoot for the stars.
4. Reward yourself!
As students, we all know that feeling of relief when we turn in that last final of the week. So much weight is taken off our backs and we know that we can finally relax. Think about a way to reward yourself once you get to the end of the tunnel. Celebrate finishing your finals by taking yourself to the spa or by going shopping at your favorite stores. If possible, use some savings to go on nice, small vacation. Go binge watch that sitcom on Netflix you have been hearing about. Or, simply give yourself some time to relax and not think about anything school-related. Having an incentive in studying and getting through the treacherous week of finals will push you to work at your highest potential.
Do not forget that no matter how your final grade turns out, it is not the end of the road. If your GPA takes a big hit at the end of the semester, do not take that as a signal that you are not cut out for your prospective career and field. There is always opportunities for you to recuperate and pick yourself back up in the next semester. Your GPA is not a complete reflection of your effort and academic potential.
Take the preparation you need to pass and excel in your finals. Feeling prepared for what is to come is a great feeling. If you walk into your test poised and ready, everyone will see your resilience and confidence.