How to Prepare for a Final Exam

A final exam score can equal half, if not all, of your course grade.

A final exam is the culmination of months of classwork and can amount to half, if not all, of your course grade. The more study and attention you give to your coursework during the class, the easier the preparation for the final exam. However, whether you're cramming information in at the last minute or distilling the finer points of your subject, there are basic study skills you can use to help retain course material in preparation for the final exam.

Instructions

1. Narrow down targeted exam material and meet with your instructor. Direction and guidance on the format and topics covered in the final exam is imperative. It is a rare instructor who refuses to offer any guidance on the material covered in the final. Be sure to know whether the exam covers only information presented since the mid-term, or covers the entirety of the course. Use all exam study guides offered by the instructor as a basis for your preparation. Attend all classes immediately preceding the exam date, which usually cover these specific test details.

2. Determine whether you are a visual, auditory, tactile or kinesthetic learner. The way in which material is presented is usually beyond a student's control, but using your natural inclinations and tendencies to recall that information can be a huge help. If you're an auditory learner, record class lectures, talk problems through and read textbook information out loud. If you're a visual learner, underline and highlight printed material, draw pictures and use graphs and charts to illustrate ideas. Use your finger as a reading guide if you're a tactile learner; rewrite class notes and craft models. Kinesthetic learners retain information well with word associations, musical rhythms and body movements. Pull the strategies from all four learning styles that work best for you.

3. Schedule a study group. If you, on your own, have genuinely reviewed the targeted material to the best of your ability, identify those classmates who would best complement those efforts and schedule a study session with them. Hold your meeting in a distraction-free location and set an agenda. Specifying exactly what you'd like to cover in your session will prevent wasting time. Ask each person to expand on the salient points of the material. Explaining information to others is a way of making sure you understand it yourself.

4. Verify the exam date, time and location. Final exams are often scheduled outside of regular class-time and sometimes in a different location. Bring the materials required for the exam, including blue-books, writing implements and personal identification. Arrive early and give yourself time to settle into your seat. Label your exam book with the identifying information requested by your instructor and always eat something beforehand. Cramming in the minutes before the exam is not recommended, but once the exam clock is ticking, and your books and notes put away, the information in your head is fair game. Jot down notes on the sides and inside cover of your exam book to organize thoughts, highlight points and craft responses. Carefully plan out time for each question, and include enough time for reviewing and editing your responses before finishing.

References

• "The Anxious Test-Taker's Guide to Cracking Any Test"; Laura Braswell, editor; 2009

Resources

• "Getting Straight 'A's---A Student's Guide to Success"; Richard Palmer; 2006