You’ve made it through the entire semester and the only thing standing in your way of the winter break is that final exam… or three. Here are some useful tips to help ace those tests.
Know the Details
The last thing you want is to show up for your final exam only to realize you missed it because you got the date, time, or location wrong. Check with your professor to be sure you know where and when the exam will take place. You should also find out what materials are needed to bring to the exam. Do you need pens or pencils? Can you use a calculator? Are you allowed notes or your textbook? Being prepared when you walk into the exam allows you to focus on the test material.
Prepare Your Mind and Body
When’s the last time you successfully completed anything the day after you pulled an all-nighter? To mentally and physically prepare yourself for your exams, you need to stay on a consistent sleep schedule so you can be well rested. When your brain and body are fatigued, you won’t be able to recall the material you spent so long studying. This also includes eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising. And don’t forget to eat before your final – taking a test hungry is a recipe for disaster.
Avoid Social Media
During finals week, you should keep your brain focused on the task at hand and avoid filling it with social media distractions. Study sessions can easily become derailed when your phone is constantly calling for your attention, and your brain can only focus on so many things at one time. This can also be said of video games and other fun diversions. Instead of getting carried away with them, try using these in short snippets for positive reinforcement after you’ve spent time studying.
Reduce Your Stress
Stress can creep up from a lot of places and can seriously hinder your finals week performance. Try to surround yourself with friends and family members who don’t add stress to your life. Plan your week out in advance so you’re not stressed over transportation or because you’ve overslept. You should also be careful not to stress yourself out over your exam scores. Your finals are an important part of your grade, but learning the material should be your primary goal, and at the end of the day, grades don’t define who we are.
Finally, don’t forget about confidence. You’ve made it this far and we’re all rooting for you! Best of luck!
