It's so close but still so far. You can feel that summer breeze on your face and hear those crashing waves from the beach in the distance. But when you open your eyes, there's just a huge pile of work with the word "FINAL" in fat red ink scribbled on top. It's the last step in the year for college students and they have already started scrambling about, trying to remember the notes from the first week of school. If you're anything like me, studying can be hard with limited materials, but now that I will be entering my third year of college, I have found ten studying methods that have helped me relax and focus on the information being obtained.
1. Make a to do list
The very first step is to write out everything you know you have to do. Write out when and where your finals will be so you can physically see how much time you have to study and which final needs to be studied for first.
2. Compile a stack of flashcards
Next, make as many flashcards as you deem necessary for each final. It's easier to memorize information faster when the answers can be short and sweet.
3. Re-read old chapters or older lecture notes
While making those flashcards from before, make sure you are reading all the notes you took that semester. Yes, even the day you just had to watch a movie and got to leave thirty minutes early. As proven in the past, most professors don't just show you movies for fun and there is a very likely chance there will be at least two questions about it on the exam.
4. Record yourself reading your notes and listen to your notes instead of music
Something weird that I have noticed that can help is when you read your notes, record yourself reading them out loud, and label the soundbite with the corresponding class or lecture. Then throughout your day, instead of listening to music, listening to the recording. That way you are exposed to the notes more often and you can continuously think about the information.
5. Study group sessions at the library
Ask anyone, even someone you didn't talk to all semester if they would meet up for a group study session. This is a great way to get answers you might not know already, and help one another with memorization.
6. Read notes out loud and rewrite them with a red or blue pen
Writing notes out again in red or blue ink pen will not only force you to read the notes once more through, but it's been proven that the colors stand out in your memory more. this way you will most likely remember the notes on the page and be able to visualize them instead of your quickly scribbled notes in faded pencil.
7. Attend your professor's drop-in hours for clarification on notes
Don't be afraid to ask for help, especially if these finals can make or break your final grade. Own up to anything you don't know, because I promise, your professor does not secretly want you to fail.
8. Write out all the answers to questions on a study guide
God bless the teacher that gave you the perfect study guide, so you better utilize it as best as you can. Write out every question and the corresponding answer, no matter how much it hurts your hand. No typing, the act of writing each letter and word out helps with memorization immensely.
9. Call your friend from home and ask them to quiz you
Friends can be great help during finals, especially if they have already taken the class or know how to help you excel since they know you better than anyone. If anything, just read your friend the notes out loud as if you're teaching them.
10. Highlight parts of your notes you still need extra studying time on
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the material you do know, and the material you don't know. It will help you crack down on the things that still seem hazy and you won't waste any time studying things you already know well enough.
Whether these techniques work for you or not, make sure you have a couple that do benefit you for your finals this semester. The more you study in ways that benefit you, the better you will feel during the last tests of the year.
