Study Tips for Finals Season

Finals season is here. Studying for any exam can be extremely stressful, especially if you have a lot riding on this final grade. However, there are some helpful tips you can follow to make the experience less worrisome!

1. Find a clean space to study.

If you are someone who likes to study in the library, or Gilman, or an empty classroom, this part should be simple. If you like to study in your room, make sure to organize or clear off your desk. The last thing you need while studying is to bump into things or knock stuff off of your desk. Try to clear off at least a foot and a half of space on your desk or table to put your notebooks, laptops, pens, and textbook.

2. Gather your studying materials.

Everyone has a different study process, but I have a system that I often use regardless of the class I am studying for. I use colored pens, a highlighter, my laptop with lecture slides, my lecture notes, and a textbook if the lecture slides aren’t clear enough. I also use my textbook and solutions manual for practicing problems for certain classes.

3. Make a study playlist.

Some people enjoy listening to music when they study. I prefer only to listen to music when I am studying for a math course, and cannot function with music if I’m studying for a humanities class. Either way, I would highly suggest listening to study music that doesn’t have any lyrics. Although it might not seem too distracting, there’s a chance you are subconsciously listening to the words and not paying attention to what you’re reading or writing. There are tons of study playlists on YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, or Soundcloud. I like to listen to the Cinematic Orchestra if I decided to have music while I study. Many of their songs are very calming without being sleep-inducing.

4. Go back to the start.

Remember that it is crucial – if your finals are cumulative, of course – to go back to the very beginning of the semester and review what you’ve learned. It’s extremely helpful to review previous tests and/or quizzes to help you remember and practice the material. Some people benefit from reviewing their lecture notes from the beginning of the semester through the end, while others can just skim the early units. Whichever works for you is fine, as long as you understand the concepts from earlier on in the semester, because they will almost definitely end up of the final. If your final is not cumulative (lucky you!), make sure you understand any prior concepts that relate to what you have just learned in your last unit.

5. Take care of yourself.

Make sure to take breaks in-between studying. Especially during reading period, make sure to go outside to take a walk or grab coffee with a friend. Hunkering down in Brody for 20+ hours will not make you do any better on your exams! Take breaks, eat well, and have some social interactions every day. This will help you be de-stressed instead of distressed.

6. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Sometimes finals can seem far away if you have a couple of days of before your final. Yet, it will be so much easier to spread out your studying. Information needs some time to sit in your brain and absorb; you can’t just study the evening before and expect to remember what you need for your finals. While I’ve put that in non-scientific terms, the idea is scientifically proven. Studying last minute is not helpful. Studying a few days in advance will also help you avoid pulling all-nighters before your final. Getting enough sleep is more important than answering 50 more practice questions.

7. Reward yourself.

While you should definitely give yourself a pat on the back when your finals are done, feel free to reward yourself even before they’ve started! Maybe for every 2-3 hours you study you get an hour or so to watch that new Netflix series you’ve been dying to see. Or maybe you want chocolate as a reward, or online shopping sprees, or 15 minutes with a face mask. Reinforcing your behavior by allowing yourself a small reward after studying hard will motivated you to keep going.

Remember not to get too stressed about finals. You’ve learned the material, and you know what you’re doing! I wish everyone good luck with their exams and would like you to remember that Winter Break is not too far away!