Success During Final Exam Week

Final exams are the culmination of all of your hard work during the semester.  This idea, of course, can be very stressful.  Some survival strategies include:

• Be sure you know if the exam covers just the final unit or the entire semester of information.
• Know the time and location for each exam and plan to arrive early.
• Have multiple pens or pencils in case one breaks or runs out of ink.
• Know what grade you have in each class.  Put more effort into a class where you have the possibility of moving up a letter grade OR are in danger of dropping down a grade.
• Be sure to sleep, eat nutritiously and exercise.
• Continue to study all subjects.   Make the last subject you study each night be the one that is the first exam the following day.
• If you have exams back-to-back prepare a brief study guide you can review as you move from the first exam to the second.
• Don’t get caught in other people’s anxiety.   Sometimes very vocal people are simply venting and passing their stress on to you!
• Plan something fun and relaxing after exams are over.

Of course the main strategy for a successful finals week is to have been preparing and learning all during the semester.  Enjoy showcasing your hard work and then your future good grades!
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.   Click on the upper right link.