Final exams are held at the end of each semester in college. They are often exams, but professors may choose to have students present projects instead. Finals can be a stressful time for students.
Students are usually stressed about finals for a number of reasons, including:
- Finals make up a large percentage of a student’s grade. This means that poor performance on a final test or project can significantly lower a student’s overall grade in the course.
- Students have to take several final exams or prepare several projects over the course of a few days. They may have a few days to prepare in advance, but it can be difficult for students to decide which projects or exams to prioritize. All of these exams and projects at one time can be challenging.
- Exams or projects can be more difficult than expected. Even if a student has a good grade in a course, the final exam or project can be different from what they have learned throughout the semester. This can make it challenging for students to get a good grade.
- Their parents may put pressure on them. Some parents want their students to get certain grades, such as all As or Bs. This makes finals even more stressful for students because they do not want to upset their parents. This can stress them out even more.
Tips for Surviving Finals in College
Fortunately, there are some ways to make final exams and projects easier for students. Here are some helpful tips from 24-hour essay writing service and its team of ENL academic writers. These tips will help you survive during final exams in college:
- Take a break. Though you do need to study for your exams and work on your projects, make sure you take breaks. This will help you to stay focused when it is time to work.
- Create a study schedule. If you have several chapters or sections to study, break them up into smaller portions. Then, plan what you will study each day leading up to final exams. This is easier than studying a whole textbook the night before an exam.
- Study with a friend or two. You can get together with a few of your classmates and go over the study guide. Ask each other questions and work through difficult problems together. This will hold you accountable too.
- Make sure you know when your exams are. If you show up late or completely miss your exam, you could end up with a zero instead of having a chance to get a better grade.
- Go outside. It can help to get some fresh air and clear your mind. You can even study outside if you want to. Otherwise, just take a short walk, relax, and then get back to work.
- Get plenty of rest. Some students think that it is helpful to stay up all night reading their notes and textbooks. In reality, you need to make sure you get enough sleep before an exam. Students perform better when they are well-rested.
- Start studying early. If you wait until the last minute, you will have a lot to study in a short amount of time. By starting early, you can get everything done and revisit confusing topics.
- Stay healthy. Taking a final exam when you are sick can make it more difficult to do well. Stay healthy by getting plenty of rest, eating well, drinking enough water, and taking your vitamins.
- Organize your notes. If your notes became cluttered throughout the semester, it is a good idea to organize them before finals. Be sure to highlight important information too. It can help to have your notes sorted by chapter or concept.
- Ask questions. Your professor is there to help. If possible, meet with your professor outside of class and ask any questions you may have. Teacher assistants or graduate assistants can be helpful, as well.
- Put away any distractions. If you are easily distracted by social media, your favorite TV show, or your roommate, you need to stop yourself from getting distracted. Go study at the library or put your phone away.
- Use your campus resources. Many colleges offer free tutoring. You can get the help you need to prepare for your upcoming exams. Some tutors may go over practice questions or suggest study tools.
- Offer to teach your classmates. When you teach something, you help yourself learn it better as well. If there is a concept, you know pretty well, teach it to someone else to ensure you know it perfectly before an exam.
- Study strategically. If you are very comfortable with math but need some extra help with history, it makes more sense to study history. Do not completely neglect the subjects you know well. Just focus more on the ones you are struggling with.
- Watch videos. There are plenty of videos online that can help you with challenging topics. Simply search for the topic you need help with and you should find videos to help. It can be useful to hear different explanations or see visual aids.
- Stay hydrated. If you are dehydrated, you will feel tired and may get headaches. Drink plenty of water so that you can work more efficiently.
As you study for your final exams, or plan your final projects, keep these tips in mind. They will help you to stay on track as you prepare for these big assignments. Do not be afraid to ask for help or to take a break. These can help you out so you can perform better on your exams.
