Hey Everyone,
Hope you all had a fun and relaxing long weekend. Can’t believe we are nearly done with the term and exams are just around the corner. Finals can be quite stressful and nerve-wracking. So, knowing how to properly prepare for the exams to avoid such situations is key. How exactly can you do this? How can you possibly do well in ALL your courses? There are some methods that will help you better prepare for finals.
- Give yourself enough time to study – “Cramming” has become very popular amongst most students. It may seem like the short-term solution to last minute studying but it is not the right approach. It’s always best to start well in advance, don’t leave things to last minute. Write down the number of exams you have and allocate study times to each course (remember to give yourself more time for difficult courses). Set out a study timetable and try to stick to it.
- Organize your notes – Make sure you have all the notes in the right order. Confirm this with your classmates or professor. Be sure to ask the professor if any extra material is required for the exams such as conversion tables, cheat sheets etc.
- Study in a group – Get together with friends for a study session. This is helpful at times when you are stuck with problems they might have answered. Just remain focused and encourage each other.
- Practice old exams – Look at past versions of exams. These can be found on the Engsoc Exam Bank. This will help you get a better understanding of the format used by the professor and the level of difficulty. Remember this may vary between years and professors may change the way they set exams.
- Visit your Professor or TA – If you are having difficulties with certain concepts go see the professor or TA for that course. Don’t wait for the day before the exam. For all the first years; take advantage of the WEEF TA’s (you will not have them after this term.)
- Take regular breaks – You would think that studying for as many hours as possible is best but this can actually be counterproductive. Your brain can get tired or even “saturated”, so taking regular breaks to refresh your mind is really helpful. Everyone is different, so make a study routine that best fits you.
- Be healthy – During exams students usually tend to eat junk food and get minimal amounts of sleep. Keeping your brain well fuelled and active during exams is essential. Avoid eating junk food. This makes you feel lazy and drowsy, go for healthier options when you can. Getting a good amount of sleep is necessary, you don’t want to be tired when studying (make sure to include lots of sleep when making your schedule).
- Drink plenty of water – I know you hear this all the time. But keeping yourself well hydrated keeps your brain active. Avoid energy drinks and lots of coffee!!
Most of you may think its too early to worry about exams, but a head start leaves you feeling more prepared and less stressful during exams.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to send me an email on vpeducation.b@engsoc.uwaterloo.ca.
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