A Few Tips to Help You Ace Your Exams
Yes, it's that time of year already - almost the end of the first semester, and exams are right around the corner. There's no need to panic, though. Study habits are like anything else, a matter of practice. Try to approach your finals with a positive attitude, and think of them as your time to shine: a chance to show what you've learned during the semester. As we do every year, we're offering a few tips to help you avoid exam-time stress, and -- who knows? -- just maybe get a top score.
1. Don't freak out: While you certainly need to put some time into studying for your finals, if you've done a good job all semester, one more exam is no big thing. But do start preparing now.
2. Organize your stuff: Use the course syllabus (you know, that paper the prof handed out at the beginning of the semester) as a guide to gather together all the materials that you need to review for the exam: papers you wrote for the course, research you performed, assigned readings and, most important, class and/or lab notes.
3. Make an outline: A great way to review is to get out your laptop and type an outline of the material. This will reduce a lot of information into a manageable amount. Just writing down the ideas and information will help you remember. Then, you can study from the outline as you get closer to the test.
4. Review, don't cram: Cramming only wears you out physically, mentally and psychologically. Go over the materials you've gathered carefully and calmly. Cramming will only fill up your short-term memory and guarantee that you'll forget something.
5. Ask for help: If you just aren't getting something, try joining a study group. Study groups help make sure you aren't missing anything in your outline and give you a sense of camaraderie and support. And don't be afraid to approach your prof or TA if there's something you don't understand. He or she would rather see you come in before the exam with a question than after it with a complaint about your grade.
6. Turn off your phone: If you need a break, get out of the dorm or the library and say hi to a friend or two, but don't let your phone interrupt your concentration. Once you're in the zone, you want to stay there. Cancel your social life the week before finals. And don't spend a lot of time on Facebook, Twitter, etc. You can catch up after your exams are over.
7. Eat healthy: Your brain needs fuel even if you are sitting front of a computer all day: lean protein, green vegetables (fresh, if can get them), fruit and nuts are best. Skip the fast food and don't rely on sugary snacks to give you energy. Instead, try mixing your favorite nuts and dried fruits in a plastic container or bag, and keep it nearby for when you get hungry.
8. Exercise: Ingesting a lot of caffeine might be a good way to stay awake for a while, but it won't work forever. Plus, if you do decide to take a rest, you won't be able to sleep (see 9). If you feel drowsy but want to keep studying, get up and take a walk, kick a football, work out -- whatever you need to get the adrenaline flowing.
9. Get some sleep: Set aside some time to sleep. It's especially important to get a good night's sleep before the exam. Being clear-headed and refreshed will do you much more good than putting in a few extra hours of cramming.
10. Learn from the experience: If you find yourself cramming, needing to pull all-nighters, or staking everything on that one exam to save your grade, it might be because you haven't worked as hard as you should have throughout the fall term. Once the exams are over, let them go. Look forward to the future and make a deal with yourself to be a better -- and better organized -- student in the coming spring semester.