Study Tips For Finals

Like it or not dreaded finals are here.  Many students this week here at Defiance College are preparing for the start of finals week which can be stressful. Here are some quick study tips to make it not so stressful.

If you have any good study tips make sure to leave a comment so others can benefit from what works for you!

 Study in Groups              

As attempting it is to study with your friends it might make more sense to study with other students from your class.  When studying with friends it can be too tempting to gossip instead of studying. Then the next thing you know you will be taking an exam you are not ready for.

Study in Chunks

Plan your study time in chunks.  Don’t cram.  Plan to study anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes for each session.  After each study session is complete take a break from 10 to 20 minutes before starting another study session.  This will help keep the material fresh and keep you on track with studying.

Laugh it Up

Just because you are studying doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.  Make up silly songs to help you memories important information.  See who in your group can come up with the craziest acronyms.  You might be surprised when taking the final which one of those crazy songs or acronyms will save the day.

Prioritize your Study Subjects

Think about all the subjects that you need to study.   If you are getting an A in one class and a C in another then it makes sense that you need to spend more time studying for the class in which you are getting a C and less time for the other class.

Change Study Locations

If you typically study in your dorm then try studying in the library.  Studies have shown that alternating study locations can improve retention.  Another great way to change your location is study where you are going to take the exam.  The night before the exam go study in your classroom, this will help make the material familiar to you in the exact place you are going to have to remember it.

Use Office Hours

Students typically don’t use office hours which means that they are missing out on a great resource.  Who better to help you understand a subject than the person who is teaching it.  Office hours allow you to work one on one with the professor.  You can ask questions without feeling the pressure of your classmates.

Use the Learning Commons

If you cannot make it to office hours then another great resource here at Defiance College is the Learning Commons.  The learning commons offers peer tutoring, writing help, supplemental instruction and much more.

Have Self Control

Social media such as texting, Facebook and twitter can be a bad distraction when trying to study.  Have some self-control and devote the entire time you set aside for study to do just that.  Only use social media when using it as a reward for yourself when you complete your studies.

Reward Yourself

Studying can be boring, never ending and hard to stay on task.  Another great way to help with this is to reward yourself.  For example if you have a lot to read then try breaking up the reading with little rewards.  Say to yourself that every 3 paragraphs you read you will treat yourself with a gummy bear. Another example is plan for a chunk of time and when that time if up reward yourself with a little bit of Facebook or twitter time.  The point is to set studying goals and reward yourself when those goals are met.  They can be small goals like reading 3 paragraphs or larger goals like studying for an hour.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Last but not least make sure you get plenty of sleep before taking your finals.  We have all heard at least one hundred times before and as tempting as it is to stay up all night cramming for an exam it is really just counterproductive.  Studies have shown that in order to be able to perform at your best your body needs at least 7 hours of sleep.  Staying up all night to study isn’t going to help you retain more information if anything it will just make you tired and unable to focus while taking the exam.