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6 Ways To Prepare For Your Exams

Midterm exams are coming up, and we all know that means we are going to get a visit from stress.

Alex Atiyeh

Nov 05, 2018

University of Delaware

YouTube

Happy November! You've made it to the third month of school, be proud of yourself. In a bit, we will all be on Thanksgiving break, and before you know it it will be 2019. Crazy how time flies. Anyways, I'm here to talk to you about midterm exams. I know, it is a sucky time of year for college students, but that's okay! It'll be over before you know it. I just finished my French exam as I am typing this, and honestly it was not that bad at all. I'm going to share with you some tips on how to feel prepared for your midterm exams.

1. Take notes in class and pay attention

This is pretty obvious and I assume that all if not most of you do this. Make sure you take a lot of notes in your class. If you hear something important, write it down. If your professor says that something is going to be on the exam, write it down. If you have trouble with something specifically in a lesson, write it down. Whatever you feel you need to write down, WRITE IT DOWN! Don't tell yourself "Oh I'll remember this" because 9 out of 10 you will absolutely forget it. Taking notes and paying attention in your class will help you set a foundation for yourself as exams approach.

2. Ask your professors to clarify

Students tend to feel embarrassed when they do not understand a concept in class because they assume that everyone else does. That is not true! The likelihood of someone else not understanding the same thing as you is very high. NEVER feel afraid to ask for help or for your professor to go over something again. We are here to learn! If you are having trouble with a certain lesson or aspect of the class, talk to your teacher. It will benefit you whether you ask them during or after class. If you don't ask for help, you will not receive it.

3. Find a comfortable place to study

Everyone has their place to study. Whether it be the library, the quiet lounge in your hall, the dining hall, or your dorm room, there are many places to get work done. Me personally, I tend to study alone in my dorm room. It's a place that I am familiar with, which helps me focus, and it tends to be quiet, which I love. Others usually go to the library to study since it is always quiet there. Choose a place that you know you won't get distracted easily in and that you'll be able to focus on your studying. There is no "right" choice as everyone is different with their studying habits.

4. Have a friend help you

I love when my friends help me with my studying. It shows me what I need to work on or look over more. For my French exam, my girlfriend tested me on vocabulary and it really helped! By doing that I was able to realize what I needed to study more of. Some people prefer to be alone, which is totally okay! Sometimes it is nice though to have a helping hand in order to prepare for an exam. Especially if they understand what you are studying for!

5. Study AT LEAST a week in advance

Cramming the night before = a no go. Don't study right before your exam. It is stressful and you will not remember anything. Sometimes it works and I respect that, but don't make a habit of it. It is not a great option of studying. If you start a week in advance, it will give you the opportunity to look over what you really need to focus on and ask your professor for last minute help on a topic. This will also make you feel more prepared in the long run. DON'T CRAM.

6. GET SLEEP

This is by far the most important tip in my opinion. Get good rest the night before your exam. Staying up late to study is not always the best move. If you are not well rested the day of the exam, chances are you will make mistakes and overthink things on the exam. When I studied for my French exam I began to feel exhausted at night, and I knew at that point that the only thing I could do from there is get the rest I needed. I did not want to overwork my brain because I knew I would need to have as much energy as I could to do well the next morning. So please, do yourself a favor and don't stay up past midnight studying for an exam unless you TRULY have to. Sleep is very important.

I really hope these tips will help you as exams approach. Remember that all you can do is study and do your best! Whatever happens on the exam once you finish is in the past. Reward yourself once you finish with a nice meal or a nap even. Worrying about how you did is not worth the stress. If you end up doing well that's great! If you happen to receive a grade that you are not happy with, look at what you need to work on for the future. Feeling down and beating yourself up over a bad grade is not healthy or productive. I know parents tend to be harsh if their kid does not get at least an A, and honestly screw that. Exams are a lot, and with our extracurriculars and other classes it does not make it any easier to study. So students, just remember that overall the best you can do is study what you can and do your best. One grade does not define who you are.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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6 Ways To Prepare For Your Exams

Midterm exams are coming up, and we all know that means we are going to get a visit from stress.

1. Take notes in class and pay attention

2. Ask your professors to clarify

3. Find a comfortable place to study

4. Have a friend help you

5. Study AT LEAST a week in advance

6. GET SLEEP

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10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

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