With the end of Thanksgiving, many students will be returning to school to finish their semester or quarter exams. Finals week can be a stressful time for even the most organized and proficient students. There are multiple project deadlines on top of studying the entire Biology textbook. Keep reading for advice on how to start preparing so you can have a successful finals week and end up with high grades for a relaxing break.

25 Crucial Study Tips from USA Today

1. Create a Master-To-Do List and a Schedule for the Remaining Semester Days: Break cumulative exams into smaller study units.
2. Just Get Started, Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready
3. Review Your Notes…DAILY
4. Identify the Format of the Exam: Vary your studying technique based on the format.
5. Predict Possible Questions: Review old tests, quizzes, study guides or the course objectives.
6. Find the Answer for What You Didn’t Know the First Time
7. Meet with the Professor, a Tutor, or Learning Specialist
8. Develop Summary Sheets for Each Class
9. Link New Information with Things You Already Know: By making associations, it’s easier to remember things later.
10. Check the Front of Your Textbook: Many texts have online study guides and other learning materials for free.
11. Set Specific Measurable Goals: This will help keep your studying on track.
12. Create Mnemonic Devices: Rhymes, Acrostics, Acronyms etc.
13. Take Short Breaks
14. Reward Yourself with Other Fun Activities
15. Stay Healthy: Get sleep and avoid caffeine.
16. Draw It: Create tables, diagrams, mind maps or pictures to represent and organize.
17. Explain it Aloud: Pretend to teach someone the material you are studying.
18. Study in a Distraction-Reduced Environment: Turn off anything that might distract you.
19. Identify Examples and Illustrations: They can help you remember the concept and ways you can utilize the information.
20. Attempt the Answer the Chapter Summary Questions
21. Quiz Yourself
22. Form a Study Group
23. Manage Your Anxiety: Listen to calming music, stretching, meditating and yoga to relive stress and release negative thoughts.
24. Overlearn the Material
25. Stay Positive and Persistent

12 Ways to Ace Your Finals from Huffington Post

1. Study in Chunks: Typically 20-50 minute increments with 5-10 minute breaks are the ideal time frames to study.
2. Listen to Mozart: It has been shown to activate the right and left sides of the brains which is linked to increased recall ability
3. Alternate Study Spots
4. Drink Cocoa: It has antioxidants, cognitive and mood enhancers and more natural energy is provided.
5. Form a Study Group
6. Prevent Test Anxiety: Imagine yourself acing the exam and practice deep breathing to calm your nerves.
7. Jog Around Campus: Some studies have shown that 20 minutes of cardio a day can increase your memory.
8. Manage Your Time
9. Go to Office Hours
10. Approach Each Class Differently
11. Build on What You Know
12. Make it Interesting and Fun to Learn!

Looking to improve your study habits for life? Or are you just starting to study?

While completing our research for this blog post we can across a great site: howtostudyincollege.com. This website is a great resource for students, parents and even teachers. By following the sites program, students can learn how to study (some are never taught!). We recommend that if you have a hard time studying or are trying to teach someone how to study that you check out the website. It’s a great resource and online learning tool.

 

Good luck on your exams!

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