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Worried about finals? Don't be. No matter how tough your classes may be, you will be able to soar through your exams if you study for them properly. For help, read this guide on how to study for finals.
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Introduction
- Final exams can be a major source of stress. A final is the culmination of everything you have learned throughout the term, and is usually a large percentage of your grade. If you know how to properly prepare for your finals, however, you should have nothing to fear. Remember to begin studying early, and follow the methods outlined here to greatly improve your chances of getting the grade you want.
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Step 1: Plan
- Studying is all too easy to put off until later. Unfortunately, by the time "later" comes around, you may not have enough time left to study effectively. Therefore, it is very important to schedule your study time well in advance. For maximum success, you will need to begin two to three weeks before your exam. Plan to spend up to an hour a day, five or six days per week. This gives you enough time to thoroughly learn the ins and outs of all your material.
- It may help to schedule study sessions with a friend or a group from class. You will be able to keep each other motivated, and studying will seem like less of a chore if it is done in a social situation. Just remember to keep the focus on your work!
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Step 2: Organize
- At least a week prior to taking your final, gather all of the materials you will need. Include the following:
- Homework
- Class notes
- Past assignments
- Textbooks
Step 3: Study
- Go over your class materials, starting with the oldest sections first. Try to incorporate some or all the following methods:
- Make chapter outlines.
- Practice with flash cards.
- Take practice tests (you can even write your own questions).
- Do any chapter review sections in the textbook.
Step 4: Relax
- Studies show that anxiety affects your ability to think clearly. Fortunately, the better prepared you are, the less anxiety you are going to feel -- so if you have followed good study habits, you are much less likely to be inhibited by nerves. Do not study right before the test, as this will only remind you of what you don't know and contribute to anxiety. If you find yourself stressing out, try some of these relaxation techniques:
- Take deep breaths.
- Systematically tense and release every muscle, working from the feet on up.
- Visualize yourself in a relaxing environment, like the beach.
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