To Do List for Finals

It is that favorite time of the year for students when brains are strained! Here are a few reminders to help keep your sanity and ace those final exams.

  1. Organize - The key to greatness.
    • Write down the dates and times of all final exams
    • Determine what grade you have in each class and which exams are most important.
    • If exam is comprehensive (covering the whole semester), you will need to devote more time to it.
  2. Discipline - Ditch the T.V. and the local hangout.
    • Set aside a couple of hours each day to prepare for each final.
    • Find a place to study where you can concentrate!
    • Study in short (15-20 minutes) intense blocks of time - concentration dies if you study too long.
  3. Attack - For any subject, try attacking the review this way:
    • For each chapter or unit, ask yourself some questions you want to answer. Answer them as you study.
    • Review any study guides from your teachers.
    • Read the summaries at the end of the chapters and answer any questions.
    • Review your notes; pay particular attention to information your teacher put on the board.
    • Review your past exams and answer any questions you missed.
    • Review your notes in the textbook.
    • Go back and look up the answers to questions you couldn't answer.
    • Think up current examples. You can apply concepts to examples that mean something to you.
  4. Tricks of the Trade - Try these memory aids and ways to organize concepts:
    • Make charts that show similarities and differences between people, places and things.
    • Put vocabulary, concepts, dates and names on notecards.
    • Make timeline for history/humanities.
  5. Star Treatment - Treat your body well during finals, and your brain won't fail you.
    • Exercise helps you think better!
    • Eat well! A diet high in carbohydrates with some protein and low-fat is your best bet.
    • Skip the twinkies and grab a plate of spaghetti or fruit salad instead.
    • Go for the pasta instead of that piece of steak.
  6. The Night Before - If you have to get less sleep, do it a few days before the exam.
    • In the morning grab a good breakfast, take a brisk walk or a little run.

Go Get That 'A'!

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