How to Prepare for Finals
BY: MADISON INGRAM
EDITOR IN CHIEF
As of right now you are probably stressed, regretting watching that movie when you know you should have been studying, overwhelmed, and most likely in panic mode. If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, congratulations, you have made it to finals week. As a veteran to this infamously dreaded week, I am here to provide study tips to get you through the miscellaneous tests that you may encounter.
The Out Of Class Final Essay
This is something you MUST prepare for early! If you’re reading this and don’t have a thesis prepared… it’s too late. Prepare a thesis and an outline of what you want to talk about before you sit down to write the paper. If you sit down and just try to think of things to include you will run into writer’s block, I know from experience, trust me. Also, if you prepare early for the paper you have the opportunity to ask your professor for advice or help to ensure you are on the best route to getting a good grade. Lastly, break your work up over a few days writing only a few pages a night, and the night before its due, make revisions. Reading your essay aloud allows you to find grammatical errors or any sentences that may not make sense, this is an extremely useful way to edit your paper!
The In Class Final Essay
Ah, hand cramps. If you don’t have carpal tunnel before this final, you may very well acquire it after. Often, professors will either directly give you the prompt ahead of time, or they give you a general idea of what they will be asking. Two words; early preparation. Use this information to your advantage! Just like an out of class essay, write a thesis and outline, research the things you specifically want to talk about. You have enough time out of class to think and prepare for this essay, that there should be no reason to feel unprepared.
The Multiple Choice Final
These tests are either your best friend or enemy. I mean, theoretically if you guess on a question you have a 25% chance of getting the answer correct… but that means there is still a 75% chance that you will get the question wrong. I have found that the best way to prepare for a multiple choice test is to go back and study old quizzes or tests. There is a good chance some of the same questions or very similar questions will appear on your final. Quizlet is also a very helpful tool, especially for notes and definitions. There are games that you can play on Quizlet to test your knowledge, as well as the always useful flashcards.
The biggest and most important tip I have for finals is preparing early. Late nights cramming in the library for a class that you have been taking over the last sixteen weeks is only a slightly effective method. Rest is crucial before a big exam and while studying. IF you feel a little sleepy, take a 15 minute nap and come back to studying. Physical and mental health is important, take care of yourself! Good luck with finals, may the odds be ever in your favor.
The Columns 