Here we are about six weeks from the spring semester finish line! It’s a common feeling that once spring break is over, it’s crunch time for those grades. With most tests behind in the semester, those dreaded finals loom ahead. So what’s the best way to prepare? After a couple years of figuring out a good method of studying and preparing, I’ve compiled a list that have always seem to work for me. Knowing that an array of motivations drive students to earn the grades they want, early preparation and good scheduling can be a students’ best friend. Try these out as you approach your final hurdle:
Information is key-
• Find out all the details about the test you can from your instructor (cumulative, essay, multiple choice etc.).
• Seek out old students’ recall about the material (college forums usually have discussion boards with specific schools for students to blog on).
• It never hurts to ask your instructor if they’d be willing to let the class peek at previous semester’s tests (most won’t mind if the content has been adjusted) and review what you can remember from your own previous tests.
Avoid the cramming-
• Now is a good time to go through your material and sort out how much time you’ll need to devote to each class in order to get the grade you want to achieve.
• Skim through the material you’ll be learning in the upcoming weeks so you don’t spend your time reviewing all previous information and wind up feeling like you haven’t a grasp on the current material.
• Train yourself to use a variety a learning styles: audio learning, flash cards, diagrams. (www.flashcardmachine.com is a good website for a variety of tools.)
Location, location, location-
• Sure, the library is full of books and scholarly material, but it’s also full of distractions. People watching and web surfing act as the perfect distraction for the average college student avoiding their studying. Try to pick an isolated stop where you’re least likely to let your eyes and mind wander.
• Some of us like to listen to music while we study (I can’t concentrate for 5 minutes without a little bit of background noise!). Find which kind of background helps you and stick to it while you study. Turn off the TV, and remove clutter from your surroundings that offer possible distraction.
As we approach test week-
• Look for emails from other students offering group studying or the good Samaritan who sends out their created study guide so you can see if they have anything you might have missed. Or better yet manage your notes and study guides with classmates on NoteLog.com.
• Get sleep; staying up all night is physically and mentally draining, and energy drinks aren’t a good sustenance for anyone.
• Get clarification on any of the material you’re unclear of.
• Most important: don’t psych yourself out! If you’ve prepared properly and think you have a handle on the material, have confidence in yourself, stress won’t help you pass the test.
Have a happy crunch time!
Lindsay Marder
Social Learning Guru
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