With the semester quickly coming to a close, there may just be one last thing standing between you and that final grade you’ve been working so hard for. Finals week is daunting for some students, but do not fear! With some solid preparation and good study habits, you can maintain your good grades or use your score to make up for some of your previous lows. Here are some tips from FHSS that will help!

1. Believe in Yourself

“All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts.”
― James Allen, As a Man Thinketh 

Do not underestimate the power of your own thoughts. The more you dread your finals, the more you will put off preparing for them. Get excited! This is it! Slay the dragon! Win the battle! Defeat Voldemort! Sure, just getting it over with feels good for the moment, but you’ve worked too hard to go out like that. Remind yourself why you are in school in the first place and do what it takes to score well.

2. Get dressed 

In a Universe Article from 2014, BYU graduate student Liz Pusey said, “If you are dressed in your pajamas, then you will perform at a half-sleepy, lazy level of excellence.” Enough said. Just remember that this concept applies to both study days and testing days. 

3. Prepare …  for Reading Days

BYU has two scheduled “Reading Days” or Exam Preparation Days at the end of each semester. This year, they are on December 11th and 12th.

Some BYU alumni looked back on their “reading day habits” in a BYU Magazine article. “Reading days begin with the glorious hope that I can still read all the material I haven’t read yet” said Lisa Dearden Trepanier, “—until the morning dawns with a sunny sky and new snow.”

Sound familiar? Many students have the best intentions for reading days, but the distractions prove to be too much for them to handle. Determine the amount of time you will spend studying on these days and get started on it first thing in the morning. Come to campus to lessen the distractions. When you’re done, you can enjoy the rest of your day without that nagging feeling in your stomach.

4. Become a teacher

“While we teach, we learn,” said the Roman philosopher Seneca.

After you have spent some quality time with your books, teach the material to someone else. Trade off with your roommate. You may actually learn some interesting things from them.

5. Meet with your Professor

If you are particularly anxious about a specific exam, meet with your professor or TA. They may be able to give you some hints on what to focus on when you study and more information on the style of the test.

 

However you decide to prepare for your finals, remember to plan well and then relax and take breaks when needed. Stressing out won’t do you any good.

Photo courtesy of BYU Photo.

 

What are your best tips for studying for finals?