Finals are undoubtedly a stressful time of the semester. You are so close to being finished and closing your textbooks for a much-needed break. However, you have one last big test before you can have that long end of the semester nap or go on a vacation.
With this study plan, finals no longer have to be a tedious task that you dread. This post contains helpful information to guide your final exam preparation and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed amidst all the studying.
The very first step is to see what classes you have finals for. Not every class will have a final exam. Some courses will have a final project in place of an exam, others will have nothing at all. There’s no need to worry about a test you don’t have, so break out your syllabus and see what the end of the semester looks like for each of your classes.
Next, you want to see when these finals are. Mark it on your calendar, set a reminder on your phone, have it memorized! Do NOT miss your finals. I repeat, do not let these exams slip your mind. Some courses have finals that are worth 30% and most professors won’t let you make it up unless you missed the test for an unexpected circumstance. While this percentage of your final grade is significant, it is only meant to be concerning if you miss the exam completely.
Moving onto the actual study plan. Some classes will have content on the final from the entire course, while others may only cover the chapters after a midterm. Certain classes may have all the chapters that were covered on this final test but have the most recent material be emphasized on the exam. Check with your professor if you are unsure what to study and how much time to spend on each topic.
Then, you will want to work backwards from your exam date. For example, if you have a final exam on May 10th, and the last day of classes is May 2nd, you can plan on 8 days of studying. Ideally you should start studying for the final sooner rather than later especially if your exam is at the beginning of the finals period. That being said, the courses themselves before the final are busy so squeeze in whatever time you have when you can.
Continuing with the first example, if you know your exam covers 12 chapters, you will want to plan what topics to cover each day. Perhaps for the first 4 days of studying you can dedicate your time to chapters you struggle with more. Then for the last 4 days you can study the remaining 8 chapters by reviewing 2 chapters a day.
The last tip is to study what you are least confident in first. If you save the topic you find most difficult to the day before the exam, you will not only be more stressed but you will have less time to comprehend the concept and contact your professor if you need further clarification.
At the end of the day, try the best you can! Finals can be tough, but you are tougher! Get a good night’s sleep the night before and eat a nutritious breakfast in the morning. Happy studying, you got this!
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