Finals Studying Tips: Some Advice for Troubling Times

1.      Give yourself plenty of time.

Cramming doesn’t work. It just doesn’t. When you start to study weeks ahead you have plenty of time to read everything. It also gives you time to ask questions about anything you don’t fully understand.

2.      Use an Agenda.

Write your study time in your agenda, even if it’s only 20 minutes a night. An agenda is one of the best organizational tools you have to help you prepare for your exams.

3.      Set up a study stadium.

Okay, it doesn’t have to be an actual stadium—just an area where you can leave your notes, your pencils, and your dictionary. Someplace where you are comfortable and where there is little distraction—that means no TV or blaring music!

4.      Look at the big picture.

How many pages in total do you have to study? How much time? If you have 50 pages to cover in 10 weeks, then that is only 1 page a night on weekdays, with weekends off. That’s not so bad! You can even write down what pages to study on what night.

5.      Study a little bit every night.

When you start early enough you can easily avoid the stress and anxiety of pulling an all-nighter. And, you can move at a steadier pace—20 minutes a night is easier to handle than 7 hours the night before. By the week before the exam you’ll have read everything at least once and you’ll be prepared!