How to Study for a Final Exam

Finals are approaching.  Here are some tips for preparing for a major exam:

First – You need to know the following:

• What information will the exam cover?
• What is the format?   Multiple Choice? Long or short essay?  On-line or on paper?
• Do you have all of the class notes and materials that you need to study?
• Are there any things that you do not understand that will be on the exam?

Next – organize the material you need to learn:

• What are the major topics?  How many are there?  Write down these topics either in a list or make a review chart with the topics across the top of the page.
• Go through your material and write down the sub-topics within each major topic.

Finally – Begin to learn each topic. 

• Do one topic a day.  The first day work with one topic. 
• The next day focus on the second topic and review the first.
• The third day, focus on the third topic and review and first and second.
• Continue on until you have covered all of the topics.  Hopefully you still have a few days left before the exam.  Continue to review all of the topics; paying close attention to the one you know the least well each day.
• As you are doing this, be sure to combine information from your textbook and lecture notes.

Here are some specific strategies to use while learning the information:

• Recitation – after reviewing the information, cover it over and restate it in your own words from memory.
• Organize the material into study guides, review charts, time lines, flow charts – whatever format suits the information you need to know.
• Predict exam questions and then answer them.
• Form a study group and either quiz each other or divide up the material and teach each other.
• If quizzes are available on-line or in the textbook, be sure to take those.

Finally – get a good night’s sleep the night before.   Your brain will not function properly if you are tired.

Good luck – but “good study” is better!