Finals – Study Smarter, Not Harder!

Guest Blogger – Carolee Followill, National Academics Chairman

Though your classes are ending and the nice weather beckons, now is the time to prioritize your schedule and efforts to achieve the best academic outcome from your semester. Your time is limited and you want to use it wisely to prepare. Here are some tips to help maximize your success preparing for and taking your finals.

• Look at your class syllabi to check for pertinent information. Be sure you know the dates, times and locations of your finals are correct and keep track of them in your calendar.
• Study early and often. Don't wait until the last minute! Prioritize what you need to study and when. Some finals carry more weight than others, some subjects are easier for you than others and some subjects may need more effort in order to improve your grade. Take these things into consideration as you schedule your time.
• Gather and organize all materials, notes, handouts, texts and assignments from class. Review your old tests, finding the answers to any questions you missed in the past.
• Know what format the exam will take. Is it comprehensive or not, discussion questions, short answer or multiple choice? Does it cover lectures only?
• Take advantage of study sessions offered by your professor. Study with a group, ask each other questions and talk about the important points. If you have questions, don't be afraid to talk to your professor.
• It is important to eat a balanced diet and get plenty of rest and exercise. You should take a short break every hour or two while studying to stay fresh. And never stay up all night cramming for a final; get at least several hours of sleep.
• On the day of the exam, be sure you are prepared. Do you have pens, pencils, calculators and any needed supplies? Be sure you have extras. Get to the exam location early and look over your notes one last time. Have a positive attitude. If you think you will do well, you are more likely to succeed.
• During the exam make sure to read the directions first! Stay calm, pace yourself and take deep breaths to help yourself remember. When you are taking your tests and don't know an answer, skip it and come back later; you may be surprised to find the answer later in the test. If you are not sure about an answer, go with your first thought, it is usually correct. If you don't know a multiple choice answer, delete those choices you know are incorrect. Always answer any bonus questions or extra credit. Watch your time and check your answers before turning in your exam.

Everyone learns differently, so do what is most effective for you. Don't study hard, study smart and you'll do well!


Visit the following sites for additional resources:

www.makingcollegecount.com

www.academictips.org

http://www.back2college.com/library/academics.htm

Campus View - A few pointers to tweak your study habits http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/campuslife/youre_not_in_hs.html

How to take on College Studying http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/961.html

Academic Excellence http://www.prenhall.com/success/StudySkl/index.html

Academic Success Videos http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/videos/index.html

Success in College http://speakerjimmy.wordpress.com/blog/

Health for College Women http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/college101.html

How to Study http://www.how-to-study.com

Steps for Writing a Research Paper http://www.back2college.com/writingresearchpaper.htm