I start my finals before this month is out. While I have done more work this year than any other it is kind of discounted in that the difficulty level of this year's modules far exceed the previous year's. I think I'll do ok but is there any advice out there? Probably whatever advice there is I should already know at this stage of college, but fire away, please do.
Exam advice. Finals.
- Thread starter Baleog
- Start date
Maj
Emperor
Stay the H*ll away from distractions. If you're afraid your discipline might slip, disconnect crucial electronic wires and give them to a trusted friend.
Some people prefer to study alone while others fare better with some peer-to-peer partnering and dialogue. If you know anyone in your courses around or above your level of knowledge and intellect , buddy up and fire away the Q's & A's.
Keep yourself healthy. Eat regularly and heartily being certain not to skip meals or to settle for light snacks subsitutes. Keep a solid sleep pattern and don't sacrifice a good night's rest for a few hour's coffee with cram. Avoid recreational drugs. Duh
Different people have different methods of conceptualizing, memorizing and comprehending (i.e. learning). If one source confuses you, try absorbing the same material from a different source.
I have a bunch of other tips but they're minor and quite customized. If you're a visual learner I have a few other helpful hints if you're interested. All the aforementioned is very basic and you've probably already covered those bases if you're well into college. But other readers will get a few nuggets of pseudo-wisdom.
Good luck on your finals.
cheers
Some people prefer to study alone while others fare better with some peer-to-peer partnering and dialogue. If you know anyone in your courses around or above your level of knowledge and intellect , buddy up and fire away the Q's & A's.
Keep yourself healthy. Eat regularly and heartily being certain not to skip meals or to settle for light snacks subsitutes. Keep a solid sleep pattern and don't sacrifice a good night's rest for a few hour's coffee with cram. Avoid recreational drugs. Duh
Different people have different methods of conceptualizing, memorizing and comprehending (i.e. learning). If one source confuses you, try absorbing the same material from a different source.
I have a bunch of other tips but they're minor and quite customized. If you're a visual learner I have a few other helpful hints if you're interested. All the aforementioned is very basic and you've probably already covered those bases if you're well into college. But other readers will get a few nuggets of pseudo-wisdom.
Good luck on your finals.
cheers
metalhead
Angry Bartender
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2002
- Messages
- 8,031
Whatever you do, don't study the night before a test. On the weekend before finals, go out and live it up. Get lots of rest on Sunday, perhaps skim a few notebooks, spend a few hours reviewing old exams, and then get lots of sleep. Don't pick up a book from then on, just make sure to eat a few nutritious meals, and continue to get lots of sleep. Whatever you do, don't cram. Chances are, whatever you haven't learned by now won't sink in the night before the test, so just keep your mind limber and ready.
Do your hardest work in the weeks before your exams begin to make sure you don't have to study during finals week - you will do much better as you'll avoid the anxiety that 90% of students cause themselves by trying to learn things last-minute that they should already know, and a lot of students cram even though they already know everything they need to in order to pass.
Be confident when you walk in that test room - at that point, worrying is pointless, you either know your stuff, or you don't, and panicking will only hurt your performance. You'd be surprised at how well you can do on exams despite knowing very little about the subject the test is on if you have the right mindset.
Do your hardest work in the weeks before your exams begin to make sure you don't have to study during finals week - you will do much better as you'll avoid the anxiety that 90% of students cause themselves by trying to learn things last-minute that they should already know, and a lot of students cram even though they already know everything they need to in order to pass.
Be confident when you walk in that test room - at that point, worrying is pointless, you either know your stuff, or you don't, and panicking will only hurt your performance. You'd be surprised at how well you can do on exams despite knowing very little about the subject the test is on if you have the right mindset.
DvR
½ man, ½ amazing
What's always good is to get a hold of some former exams so you can practice those.. Although you said this year's modules will be alot harder, so I don't know if it'll be of much use now..
Always worth the try though..
Always worth the try though..
Perfection
The Great Head.
Remember the rule of two, if it is into different sources or one source twice then you should memorize it
CommiePlanner
Warlord
On the other hand cramming does work, lots of coffee and focused study have helped me through most college and graduate finals. Determine with a group the most likely questions the professor will ask, ones he may ask, and the ones he most likely wont ask. Split your time accordinlgy between subjects. Know your stuff, be able to site text's and professional publications. Know all sides of a qustion and which one your professor is partial to. Eat well and nutritously. Have more than one alarm clock to wake you up before the test.
thestonesfan
A Client of Ron Kuby
I heard that staying up all night cramming is actually better than getting a good night's sleep. Never tried it, though.
A shot of whiskey is supposed to help too.
A shot of whiskey is supposed to help too.
I meant harder than the modules of third year (I'm in fourth year now). Although I'm way ahead of you. Also all my exams start at 2.30 in the afternoon, so I plan to save one paper from each subject to do during the morning in question.
DvR
½ man, ½ amazing
Ehm.. what I ment was: get a hold of last years' fourth-year-exams..
thestonesfan
A Client of Ron Kuby
Better yet, get a hold of THIS year's!
TrailblazingScot
I was kittenOFchaos
My advice:
1. Attend all lectures/practicals rather than miss most.
2. Hand in all coursework completed, especially dissertations, rather than uncompleted because you couldn't be arsed.
3. Go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before the exams.
4. Revise lecture notes and read around the subject and prepare a number of essays that are likely to come up based upon previous years testing.
5. Exercise, a healthy body DOES mean a healthy mind.
6. Cut back on the porn
7. Cut back on civfanatics
8. Realise that doing the work now WILL make life much more pleasant in the future.
9. ORGANISE GETTING A JOB FOR AFTER YOU GRADUATE.
I hope this helps, I don't expect you to find it easy, but it will be worth it...maybe!
TrailblazingScot
I was kittenOFchaos
Hmm mixed feelings on this post.
1. If I didn't revise/vise the night before or day of the test I'd have know nothing
2. If I didn't cram number 1 would have left me with a very brief level of knowledge.
3. Nutritious meals yes, but not too nutritious, the weigh gained by students over the course of 3 years is incredible in my view and experience!
4. Studying in finals week is better than not studying during finals week, though I know which option I chose. I think I played Operation Flashpoint...
I will agree with...be confident when you walk into that exam room and don't panic. There is alot you can achieve even with very limited knowledge if you keep your wits about you and give what answers you can and try and determine what the questions (particularly essay questions) allow you to cover in terms of subject material. I had great fun inventing my essay on the effect of gravity on the Earth during my geology exam, linking it into a wide range of disperate pieces of knowledge I had on the subject.
The most important thing about University is not the grades etc...but finding out what you want to do with the rest of your life and achieving the means to pursue that goal.
superunknown
Fake Plastic Head
To get the right mindset there is a thing you can do:
Get a piece of paper, draw a horisontal line on it. On the right end of the line you write the word success. On the left you write the word failure.
Then you think about the test you are about to take, and how good your chances are for success.
Proceed with writing your name on the line as close to success as you think you can manage on the test. Be honest, but don't underestimate yourself.
This way of visualising makes your brain realise that you're actually going to succeed. It removes much of the anxiety and lets you perform better on the test.
Do this the night before.
Works like a charm, trust me.
Get a piece of paper, draw a horisontal line on it. On the right end of the line you write the word success. On the left you write the word failure.
Then you think about the test you are about to take, and how good your chances are for success.
Proceed with writing your name on the line as close to success as you think you can manage on the test. Be honest, but don't underestimate yourself.
This way of visualising makes your brain realise that you're actually going to succeed. It removes much of the anxiety and lets you perform better on the test.
Do this the night before.
Works like a charm, trust me.
SirJethro
Paterfamilias
Don't cram at the last minute. I never studied the day of my big exams....and I always finished my studying for them the previous night before 10pm (research has shown that you don't retain very much after 10pm).
I'm now going to let you in on my secret to graduating with honors: pinball. Yep...it worked for me. Before any major exam, I would play pinball in the student center for at least an hour or so. It helps relax you and takes your mind off the exam. I always did better after pinball.
I'm now going to let you in on my secret to graduating with honors: pinball. Yep...it worked for me. Before any major exam, I would play pinball in the student center for at least an hour or so. It helps relax you and takes your mind off the exam. I always did better after pinball.
