Preparing for Final Exams

By Erica Kareco

Finals week can be a stressful time for any college student. The mix of re-learning information from an entire semester, studying long hours, and taking exams can take a toll on the mind and body. Here are a few tips to help you take on finals week and relieve some of that stress.

Study in chunks.

Studying in chunks has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to study for an exam. Chunking allows students to break down information and group information learned in a meaningful way, which helps them remember it better.

Get enough rest.

During finals week, it is important to get enough rest. Studying can be exhausting, so it is important to get enough rest before the exam so your mind feels fresh. Also, getting a good night of sleep, will allow you to remember and process information more effectively.

Create a schedule/studying plan.

Create a schedule for studying for finals week. This will help keep you on track of what you need to do by a certain time. Also, it has been proven that people who write down their goals/tasks are more likely to complete it.

Take breaks throughout the day.

Take breaks during finals week. You are more likely to remember information better and be able to study information more quickly if you give your mind a break. For example, if you have studied for an hour, reward yourself with a 15 minute break, then get back to studying after taking that break.

Make sure to eat and drink water.

Finals week can be very busy and chaotic. Oftentimes, people get wrapped up in studying that they forget to eat or drink water. Make sure you are taking those breaks to eat and drink water because it is important to keep your body fueled so it can handle those long hours of studying. Keep a water bottle by your studying space so you can stay hydrated, and take mandated breaks for eating.