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TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR FINAL EXAMS
TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR FINAL EXAMS
1. Make a finals game plan.
1. Make a finals game plan.
If you plan out your study sessions (for ALL your exams), you’ll get a better handle on how much work you’re facing. Use the calendar on your phone to set alerts and reminders for yourself so you stick to your plan.
2. Start early.
2. Start early.
Start studying for finals a few weeks before the first exam, and figure out how much time to set aside each day for each subject. Be realistic about how long it will take to, say, memorize the dates for all the Civil War battles. You need to fit in brain breaks, too!
3. Study in this order:
3. Study in this order:
a) definitely b) probably c) might be on the final
a) definitely b) probably c) might be on the final
Don’t just start from the beginning of your notes and try to cram everything in: Think about what you know for sure will be on each test and review that material first. Then move on to studying what will probably be on the test, then what might be covered. That way, if you run out of time, you know you at least have the basics nailed. Ask your teachers if they’ll share copies of previous finals so you can see what might be covered or how questions will be phrased.
4. Give yourself more time to study for your toughest classes.
4. Give yourself more time to study for your toughest classes.
If chemistry gave you trouble all semester, devote more time to that subject—even if it’s your last final. Look over your previous tests for the year, if you scored poorly on one unit in Spanish, chances are you didn’t absorb it all the first time. Take extra time now to review what you missed. By starting with the toughest stuff first, you have time to ask your teacher questions or get help from our tutors.
5. Form a study group.
5. Form a study group.
There’s nothing like peer pressure to keep you motivated to study. Make a plan with friends to review the class material, compare notes, or work through tricky concepts. You'll benefit from the good study habits and notes of the other members in your study group. if you’re trying to solve a tough math problem, two heads are better than one.
6. Talk it out.
6. Talk it out.
Not only is it more fun to study with your friends than studying by yourself, you’ll also learn more. By talking through the facts and formulas with a study partner, you’re thinking about the material more deeply, which means you’ll remember it better later.
7. Get creative with study aids.
7. Get creative with study aids.
Now that you know what key concepts from each subject you need to prioritize, find the best way to review and internalize what you predict will be on the final exam. Make flash cards to help you memorize dates and equations. Or come up with a mnemonic device—a system of memorizing facts using a phrase or acronym you’ll definitely remember. For example, using the name Roy G. Biv helps to remember the order of colors in a rainbow.
8. Study your notes.
8. Study your notes.
Outline your class notes for daily review. Notes and flashcards are also great for last-minute review the morning of your exam.
9. Quiz yourself.
9. Quiz yourself.
If you’re studying at home, have your mom or dad quiz you on the information you’ve already studied. Students tend to remember the information they've been quizzed on better than the information they simply review.
10. Make sleep a priority.
10. Make sleep a priority.
While it may be tempting to pull an all-nighter and cram everything in at the last minute, it’s a bad idea. You just add stress, and you won’t retain the information for very long by studying that way. You may even forget some of it by the time the test begins.
11. Take five.
11. Take five.
Take breaks to improve your concentration when you return to studying: Veg out with an episode of your favorite TV show or play a couple rounds of Wii tennis.
12. Brain food is real.
12. Brain food is real.
Eat healthy and drink plenty of water to keep your brain firing on all cylinders.
Study Habits
Complete ALL assignments whether graded or not.
It is best to review the material right after class when it’s still fresh in your memory.
Don't try to do all your studying the night before the test. Instead space out your studying, and review class materials several times a week, focusing on one topic at a time.
Redo past papers and questions.
Students should bring their calculators to class every day. They need to be familiar with their calculator.
Find a comfortable and quiet place to study with good lighting and little distractions (avoid your own bed; it is very tempting to just to lie down and take a nap).
What's Your Child's "Study Style"?
Learn How He or She Can Ace the Next Exam
Which one are they? The Crammer, The Memorizer, or The Absorber?
Learn how to work with your child's "Study Style" to ace their next exam.
'Tis the season for final exams, unit assessments, and chapter tests.
And it would be nice if it were as simple as sitting down to study, putting in the time, and coming out with an "A". But over the years, I've seen my fair share of bright kids who don't get the grades they were hoping for... and it's not because they didn't spend enough time studying.
Whether they cram, try to memorize, or just simply re-read the textbook or study guide, they almost always fall into one of these three camps when they study.
The good news is, depending on your child's tendencies, you can help them put specific study strategies into play that will help them ace their exams and close out the year strong.
Read about the three different strategies below, or watch the video above.
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