Whether you’re in high school, college, or graduate school, finals week is your biggest nightmare. If you’re like the rest of us, the idea of studying is enough to stress you out and make you want to take a nap or watch some Netflix instead. However, it is possible to remain productive and still be able to get your rest in.
1. Make a schedule.
Whether you have a month until finals or less than a week, one of the best ways to get yourself organized is to sit down and decide how much time you’re going to dedicate to each subject everyday. Designate a specific time in the day that you know you will be free, and be realistic with your time. If you know that you aren’t going to spend 6 hours studying for English Literature on Friday night, don’t make that your goal – that will just make it less likely that you will follow through with your plans.
2. Look through old notes and review old tests/quizzes.
Revising your old notes is one of the best ways to refresh your memory. Seeing your own thought process is likely to jog your memory and help you think back to that unit. If it does not, it will at least help you re-form concepts you may have forgotten. Looking at old tests and quizzes will help you pinpoint what your strengths and weakness were so you can focus on what topics to study. It will also help you better understand the format of the exam.
3. Form a study group.
Talking about the material and discussing it with another person will allow you to verbalize your ideas and learn new ways to remember the topics. It can also help you to quickly clear up anything you may be struggling with rather than spending hours Googling it. However, make sure that the study group you choose are people you know you will work efficiently with. Try sticking to the people that you have studied with in the past or normally ask for homework help. The last thing you want to do is come out of your study session and realize all you did was talk about everything from the latest movies to campus gossip – in other words, not the material.
4. Make yourself a study guide (preferably handwritten).
While review books and study guides you are given are great resources, making a personalized study guide will help you review topics that you know you are weak on. This being said, don’t waste time with trying to format a perfect word document. Your goal here is to learn the information, and you’re more likely to retain the information better if you physically write it. If color-coding is helpful for you, by all means, do it, but make sure it’s helping you rather than just wasting your time. Making flashcards is another great alternative.
5. Find methods that work for you and utilize them.
If you know that you’re not a textual learner, don’t waste time trying to reread the whole textbook. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like you retain much from watching videos, find study guides or text-based resources that you can use.
6. Find an ideal study atmosphere and turn off distractions.
For some people, libraries are the best way to study, and for others, sitting in their room is where they feel most comfortable. Wherever that place may be, find a quiet, relaxing atmosphere where you know you will be able to get work done. If you have to shut off your social media for a few days or keep your phone turned off when you study, it’s worth the sacrifice. If you must keep up your Snapchat streaks, try to limit yourself to mornings, nights, or when you take breaks. I promise you will survive without it for a limited period of time.
7. Take frequent breaks.
While it’s easy to stress out when you only have a few days left and you still feel as though you have a lot to learn, make sure you are taking breaks. Grab a snack, and if you have the self-control, give yourself a chance to go through social media or briefly watch TV (try to stay away from Netflix, though!). Try to take a break at least every hour, but make sure your breaks don’t exceed 10-15 minutes.
8. Don’t push off studying.
The hardest part of studying is to actually start studying. While you may be tempted to start studying in 30 minutes, those 30 minutes will eventually become a few hours. That means as soon as you finish reading this article, stop wasting time and go study!
9. Take lots of practice tests.
Practice tests are the best way to simulate the real exam. Start studying by taking one to see what your weakest areas are. Afterwards, make sure to specifically review this material, and then take another practice test to see if you have improved. Depending on the amount of available practice tests you have, space the tests out based on how long you have until your final exam. If you’re not sure where to find practice tests, ask your teacher/TA/professor if they know of any available resources.
10. Remain well-rested!
While it may be easy to tell yourself you only need two hours of sleep and will just douse yourself in ten cups of coffee, make sure you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep. No matter how much studying you are doing, if you’re not sleeping enough, you won’t retain a lot of the information. On this same note, make sure you’re eating healthy and getting enough exercise.
You’re almost there! Before you know it, exams will be over and you’ll be able to watch as much Netflix as you want. Until then, study hard and good luck!
