As the warm weather finally approaches, we students at LHS are preparing for the most dreaded part of the school year: finals. Not only can these determine our grades, but finals require us to recall past information from the beginning of the semester. And with summer right around the corner, studying for finals is even harder. (Trust me, I know.) Hopefully, after these tips you'll sail smoothly through your finals and not be grounded for the first week of summer.
Step 1: Preparation
In order to do well on your finals, it's essential that you don't rely on your final to bump you up. Make sure your grades are stable before finals so you aren't pulling your hair out in frustration beforehand. But with finals creeping up, you may want to begin by organizing your notes into different units or chapters so that it's easier to find things later on. You may also want to deactivate your Facebook for the time being, as this is often an extremely large distraction and can prevent you from reaching your goals.
Step 2: Pick the right environment for studying
Everyone has different strategies. Some people have not studied once in their life and still manage to get acceptable grades. (I wish I could be one of these people.) But if you're not one of these fortunate beings, then you may want to try studying in a quiet, secluded place. Try out the new study rooms in Cook Memorial Library or stay close to home and simply study in your bedroom. If it's nice outside, feel free to take a blanket outside and lay out while you study. This way you're not only getting a head start on your tan, but you're not cooped up in your house for hours.
For some, studying alone doesn't exactly work. Try group study sessions. But make sure you choose the right people. Avoid those classmates who tend to distract the class and interrupt the teacher because, odds are, they'll do it when you're trying to finish up that review guide as well. Instead, choose people who you know will stick to the material and not the latest gossip.
Step Three: Focus on what you don't know
Don't spend extra time going over what you've learned since Kindergarten. Instead, focus on the material that confused you by looking over your notes and previous quizzes. Some teachers will allow you to look back on previous tests to get an idea of the types of questions that will be on the final. If your teacher lets you, I'd strongly suggest getting a hold of those tests and checking out what you got wrong. Not only will this help you improve upon what you didn't do so hot on, it will give you the opportunity to look back at the format of the test your teacher uses, which is most likely the same format your final will be in.
Step Four: Take a break!
Studying for hours on end can not only make you more stressed out, but it will leave you tired and bored out of your mind. Take breaks here and there to keep yourself motivated. Whether it's grabbing a snack or watching an old episode of "Modern Family," breaks are good for you. And for some antsy people, sitting around for a break doesn't sound very appealing. Try exercising. The last thing you want to do is overwork your brain the day before your final.
Step Five: Morning ritual
An extra hour of sleep every night can really add up, especially before finals. So instead of cramming everything in the night before, study for a bit, eat a healthy dinner, and go to bed. When you wake up the next day, try taking a cold shower to really wake you up. And unless you're a fashion guru, finals are the perfect opportunity to whip out the always fashionable t-shirt and sweat pants combo. And make sure to have a bite to eat before heading out so that you're focused on your test rather than the unhappy tape worm residing in your stomach.
Step Six: Take your finals!
Whether you're walking through the doors of LHS for your first or last final, you should treat every final as if it IS your first. Get to class a little early, do a quick lookover of your notes, and turn in any material to your teacher to avoid hefty fines that will not make mom and dad too happy. Take your shoes off, get comfortable, and enjoy your finals! (Ha ha?)