It’s nearing that time of the semester again. Finals week. Here are a few key tips to find success during finals time.
- Take Advantage of Academic Help Centers
Sometimes teachers are extremely busy during finals season, but if you head to places like the Loyola Academy Math or Science Lab you’ll be able to get all your last minute questions answered by a knowledgeable teacher or classmate.
Other places like the Quiet Study Room or the Library are also places that help prioritize good studying habits without distractions like phones or loud talking.
You could also come to these places with friends. Taking time to study as a group could also get your questions answered and promote academic success.
- Study in Advance (Do Not Procrastinate)
Although you may perform well when cram studying, it doesn’t mean you truly “know” the information. Research shows that studying with the goal of long-term retention is the best way to truly understand the material, and in turn, succeed during finals week.
Procrastination causes panic. Cramming twelve hours of studying into an all-nighter is way less effective than studying for three hours weekly for a month.
Studying over a long period of time also helps with anxiety and stress by only doing little chunks of review at a time. This way, you are not trying to review several months of material in just one caffeine fueled all-nighter.
- Create a Study Schedule
Creating a study schedule allows you to make sure you have enough time to study properly for each subject, while also balancing last minute work before finals week.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new studying habits or techniques to retain information. For example, using speech to study (talking out loud about the content being studied) is a great way to retain ideas efficiently.
- Get Some Sleep
Studies show that sleep affects academic performance significantly among high school and college students. Going to bed in the early hours of the morning decreases the likelihood of success leading up to final exams. Instead, now is the time to work on your sleeping schedule.
Sleeping for even six to seven hours creates significantly more success for students seeking a good grade on their final. Being sleep deprived lowers your retention capabilities and decreases your likelihood of remembering what you studied.
- Change up Studying Spaces
Although studying in places like the bed or couch decreases the likelihood of success, switching up study environments can increase recall performance and memory.
Heading to places like a local coffee shop or café instead of studying at home every day allows you to cultivate several productive spaces in order to study efficiently.
Using these study tips can ensure you are getting the most out of studying the material in your classes and help set you up for success during finals week, next semester, or the rest of your academic career.
