Finals week is coming soon which means it’s time to cram study and stress out. Here are some tips that will help you survive finals week.
The first tip is to always get a good night’s sleep the night before. Take this very seriously! Energy drinks will not get you through finals week, please sleep. It is very important to be well rested so you can be super focused the day of your finals.
The second tip is to ask your teachers what will be on the final, you should always know what you are studying so you don’t waste your time studying something you don’t need to know. Asking questions is always important, and remember there is no such thing as a “dumb question” before finals week. And you never know, maybe you just asked a question someone else was too scared to ask themselves.
The third tip is to figure out which studying method works best for you, you should have an effective method to study for the big tests. Some study methods include the Feynman method, the blurting method, flashcards, chunking method, mock test/exam, and the memorizing method.
The Feynman method is learning the topic then pretending to teach it to someone else then going over what you don’t understand. This method makes you an expert at whatever subject you are studying for.
The blurting method consists of reading the topic, and then trying to remember your notes and blurt them out, keep repeating this process until you have the material down. This method is a bit similar to flashcards but verbal instead of physical.
Flashcards is a common method that everyone depends on. Make cards with a question on the front and an answer on the back and have someone test you. This is a method everyone uses because it always works as long as you know your topic.
The chunking method is taking one large topic and breaking it down into smaller chunks and going over the chunks until you completely finish going over the topic. This method is useful if you understand your topic to an extent and just need more knowledge on a certain chunk within your subject.
A mock test/exam is (in my opinion) the most effective way to study. You create or find a Quizlet on your topic and take this test until you get all the questions correct. Purchasing Quizlet Plus might be a smart idea if you depend on this method. Making a mock test on paper and timing yourself on the test might also be helpful so you don’t feel rushed when actually taking your final.
The final method is to memorize the material, this works best for vocabulary. Start by reading the material ten times, then say it ten times, and finally, write it twice. If you have trouble with remembering key terms or formulas I would highly recommend this method because it really helps you remember.
The fourth tip may not work for everyone but if it does you should definitely try it. This tip is chewing gum while studying and then chewing the same flavor gum when you take your test. This also works with perfume, you spray your perfume while studying and spray it again when taking the final. It is scientifically proven that chewing gum while studying helps enhance mental performance, making you more focused. Chewing the same flavor gum helps with remembering because you are doing the same activity as when you were studying your topic. However, you shouldn’t depend on this method because not all teachers allow gum or perfume in classrooms.
My last tip is to make studying fun! Listen to music, have a comfort show or movie playing in the background, light a candle, get comfy, and most importantly, lock in. You could definitely listen to whatever music you want to, however, listening to classical/slow music is recommended because it isn’t super distracting and it reduces anxiety, improves focus, and enhances memory retention by creating a calm, alert state. Studying doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
Some seniors, who have survived finals week seven times, were asked what their tips were for finals. First, Odelia Davoodoff was asked for her study tips, “You should find YouTube videos that walk through multiple choice, and FRQs for certain topics that you want to do. It’s better to have a YouTube video that goes over 40 questions within an hour than spending an hour on one question, I think you would learn more with that. I think that study groups with friends who also know the topics, they can teach you, and you can teach them. Those are my study tips, and I actually use them.”
Winmin Tan, also a senior here at Pitman was asked what her finals tips were, “It really depends on what type of class. For example, for math I like to ask my teacher to give me a lot of packets that are similar to the test. I’d like to study those especially if it’s for AP classes. For English, usually, it’s just a lot of practice, MCQs, FRQs, for APs as well, but for non APs, I just recommend focusing in class throughout the year. Also, a lot of notetaking, a lot of note taking.”
Hopefully these study tips will help you survive finals week and support your current study methods making them stronger and more effective. Overall, it is important to take notes and ask questions. Good luck on finals week!