8 replies to this topic

[Ninty64X]

Hey everyone, my first ever finals is coming up, and unsurprisingly I'm already having panic attacks over the whole affair.   So my question for all of you is, how the heck do you survive finals week, and get a good grade? Many thanks in advance.

[Tom]

Do some last-minute studying and stop stressing.

 

Also be sure to eat a good breakfast on the day of your exams - the last thing you wanna do is stress out and be hungry at the same time.

[Xiombarg]

First question is what level you are at and the environment you are learning at (a public school, a private school, a college, etc).

[grahamf]

I make a timetable of all exams and final assignments, and list the percentage of overall grade and material needed to study. I keep a couple copies in prominent places.

 

Then I play easier/less violent video games, and study the day before.

Edited by grahamf, 03 December 2013 - 06:38 PM.

[Elric]

I would suggest not procrasinating, contrary to everyone else's advice. Do a little bit at a time. So you have less to worry about when you are studying the night before. 

[Lightning_Ninja]

One of my old tricks is breaking things up over a long period of time, and taking little breaks as you go.  For example, if the test is basically a matter of memorization, read through what you have for a half hour, take a break for five minutes, then come back and see what you remember.  This might seem weird, but I once studied for an spanish test by reading a few concepts quickly multiple times, doing a quick battle in smash bros, then seeing what I remembered after the battle.  Eventually working your way slowly but surely through the material until you don't mess up.  Kind of a way of stimulating memory by not focusing on it for a moment and seeing what stuck after clearing your head.  Also, it helps keep you calm and feel like its not that bad, since you can just say to yourself that its a half hour to your next break.  None of that slogging through it all at once.

 

When I try to memorize everything in one go, I notice that once I get out of study mode, I forget or can't quite recall what I read.  This makes recalling the information a bit more natural, and not a panic response that you get while cramming.  Not to say you shouldn't do a last minute study session right before the test to put it all fresh in your mind. 

 

Now if the test is more problem solving, like a math test, I'm afraid the best way to study is by doing problems.  Specifically focus on methodology.  Make sure its clear in your head what the process is.  Where do you start, where are you going, and what steps are needed to get there.  Unless the teacher puts a homework question or something very similar on the test, simply looking at them won't help much.  I need to work on that a bit myself actually.

[KeptMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

One of my old tricks is breaking things up over a long period of time, and taking little breaks as you go.  For example, if the test is basically a matter of memorization, read through what you have for a half hour, take a break for five minutes, then come back and see what you remember.  This might seem weird, but I once studied for an spanish test by reading a few concepts quickly multiple times, doing a quick battle in smash bros, then seeing what I remembered after the battle.  Eventually working your way slowly but surely through the material until you don't mess up.  Kind of a way of stimulating memory by not focusing on it for a moment and seeing what stuck after clearing your head.  Also, it helps keep you calm and feel like its not that bad, since you can just say to yourself that its a half hour to your next break.  None of that slogging through it all at once.

 

When I try to memorize everything in one go, I notice that once I get out of study mode, I forget or can't quite recall what I read.  This makes recalling the information a bit more natural, and not a panic response that you get while cramming.  Not to say you shouldn't do a last minute study session right before the test to put it all fresh in your mind. 

 

 

My japanese teacher actually says to everyone in each of his classes that they should study by this method (not necessarily smash bros. ofc )

[Zinix]

I don't have finals for two weeks and usually I'll wait to the last minute to study. Then again, most of the material is covered in class, lol .

[Ninty64X]

First question is what level you are at and the environment you are learning at (a public school, a private school, a college, etc).

I'm a freshman and I'm at a private school, I hope that helps