Ready! Set! Go!: Training for Final Exams
Posted by Aaron on Aug 21, 2007
Preparing for final exams is like training for an athletic competition. Both require long hours of preparation, detailed knowledge of oneself, and a strategy. It can be summed up with where, when, with whom, how, and how long.
Where you study is all a matter of personal taste. For finals, I decided to get the heck out of dodge, move home, and commute back for each final. While I studied exclusively in my dorm room during the semester, I moved home so that I could raid the refrigerator and so that my mom could read me bedtime stories (don’t judge). And, while I slept at home, I decided to do my studying at my alma mater, the University of Delaware. I did this because the last thing I wanted to be surrounded by was a bunch of people, like me, freaking out. At UD, I was mostly anonymous and being there meant I was about 20 minutes away from a television.
When and how long you study is also very subjective. I do my best studying starting in the afternoon and into the night. I would show up at the library anywhere between noon and 4:00 p.m. and stay until the library closed at midnight. The exams were spread out with three days between each. So, the day farthest from an exam would be a shorter day and the days would get longer as the exam approached. I basically lived at the library, but it wasn’t all that bad. I just treated it like a full time job. Unlike midterms, where you’re trying to study and prepare for your classes, the only thing you’re focused on during finals is finals.
Who you study with can make or break your preparation. Generally, I don’t like studying with other people. Things usually end up off track and what would take an hour alone turns up devouring an afternoon. The only time I value working with others is after I have had enough time to see what I can figure out on my own. So, usually two days before an exam, I meet with a few trusted friends and only go over the material that is unclear. Also, these group study sessions can end up confusing things even more. It’s like getting driving directions from four people who have no idea where they are going.
How you study can also determine a lot. What you spend your time doing and how long you spend doing it is all a matter of strategy. With three days to prepare for an exam, I would spend one day reading an examples and explanations book (prepare to drop about $100 each semester on study aids), the second day I would read over my outline and possibly meet for a brief study session, on the third day I would take practice exams and write and re-write rule statements.On the fourth day I would say, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth. And it was so. I would make two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. I also would make the stars. I would set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And I would see that it was good.” (See Genesis 1:14-19, for a similar story)
Strategy is a big part of finals. What I did on each day was part of my strategy. Getting a lot of sleep and eating well was another part. I made sure I ate a big breakfast before each exam and made sure I took water and snacks to eat during the exam. Some of the exams can last as long as four hours, so some food around the half way mark isn’t a bad idea. My food of choice was craisins and cheese n’ peanut butter crackers. Keeping hydrated is also important, but be careful because taking three bathroom breaks can eat up valuable test taking time. And, while four hours seems like a long time, you will be amazed at how fast an entire morning or afternoon can just fly by.
Just as important is keeping motivated for that big push for your last final. I always proscribed to the thinking that the last exam was the one I should push hardest for; like a sprint before the finish line. My thinking was that everyone else would be getting burnt out. So, because of the curve, the extra work I did for the last final could potentially have the most benefit. I don’t know if that is actually true but it kept me chugging along so I guess it served a purpose.
In a nutshell, you know what works best for you. Have the guts to refuse studying with other people or at places that aren’t compatible with your studying style. Make every effort to create your ideal studying conditions and you’ll be fine.
Feel free to ask questions by emailing aaronsblog@mail.widener.edu or clicking the discuss link.