How to Study for Finals
Even for students with excellent study habits, studying for finals is an anxiety-provoking process. However, if you have laid the groundwork for success by attending class, taking notes and reading the assigned materials, performing well on the final exam is a matter of using some of the same efforts and organizational skills you've used throughout the course. Read on to learn more.
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Instructions
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Create an environment conducive to studying. Stop trying to convince yourself that the corner café is a suitable study locale. Your study site must be free of distractions, well lit, comfortable (but not bed-like) and ample enough to spread out your books and notes.
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Procrastinate at your own risk. Cramming for a final is still de rigeur on campus, but cramming is useless as a stand-alone strategy. Begin your preparation 7 to 10 days before the exam, especially if you are preparing for multiple exams.
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Consider your learning style. Auditory learners must utilize audio review tapes and group discussions. Visual learners must prepare charts, diagrams and outlines of the material. Tactile learners must seek out models, museums or laboratory environments to reinforce the materials.
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Match your study strategies to the type of test the teacher administers. If you're preparing for a multiple-choice exam, you must prepare using repetition and rote memorization with tools like flashcards. If you're taking an essay exam, you must prepare to compare, contrast, describe and evaluate complicated concepts.
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Form a study group. You must not pick your social buddies for this group; rather, choose a few conscientious students that rarely missed class. Compare notes, quiz each other and keep one another on task.
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Freshen up your notes for the final. The notes you took in class are full of extraneous information that distracts you from the essence of the material. Now that you have the benefit of hindsight, you must process the course material as one cohesive unit. Make an outline of each day's notes to achieve this understanding.
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