Final Exams? Don't Be Tempted to Cram!

The words "final exam" inspire panic in quite a few students and trigger massive last-minute studying binges.  However, studying for classes is something a wise student does regularly throughout the semester or quarter.  He or she knows that true learning takes place over an extended period of time, built in little chunks at a time on a strong foundation of knowledge.  What's that you're saying?  You're not that kind of student?  Well, you can be.  It just takes a bit of planning and a strong commitment to your education and yourself.  You should give it a try next time around.  Here's how.

Start your plan for success at the very beginning of classes.  One of the first things you should do when starting a new semester or quarter is to gather the syllabi for all your classes together along with your planner.  Begin by highlighting exam dates and important deadlines for each of your classes, and then enter that information for all classes into your planner.  This will give you an accurate view of the "big picture" and help you plan ahead to have plenty of time to prepare for important tests and projects.

For each exam you have in your classes, make a study plan.  For instance, if you are taking a 16 week course and have a cumulative midterm in week 8, you might want to start adding some extra study time for that class in about week 6.  Consider the length and point value of each exam and/or project when planning preparation time.  A 20 point multiple choice quiz over two text chapters should take less study time than a 200 point final exam over the entire course.

Good class preparation and follow up is half the battle.  If you keep up with assigned readings, take good notes during lecture, and review your notes and text on a regular basis, you are building that strong foundation of knowledge upon which your test preparation efforts will firmly rest.  Reading and reviewing your notes and the text are best done in small, manageable chunks that allow your brain to fully integrate the information well before the day of that important test.

Do some concentrated studying the night before.   Even if you are well-prepared, there's something about really cracking down for a couple hours the night before a final exam that boosts your confidence.  Don't overdo it though, and be sure to get a good night's sleep.

BUT -- if you find yourself in a tough spot and you need to cram, do it strategically.

• Concentrate on one class at a time if at all possible.
• Remove all distractions of any kind from your environment so you can focus.
• Use the study aids contained in your textbook (summaries, highlighted terms, definitions, and so on) and skim chapters for highlights and main ideas.
• Make sure you have all the supplies you need for studying on hand.
• Do not pull an all-nighter; your brain will not operate at its best without sleep!
• Plan not to put yourself in this stressful cramming situation ever again.

Want more final exam tips?  Check out The Day of the Final Exam for extra advice.

Effective Study Groups

Have you ever joined a study group for a class only to have it turn in to a waste of time? Here are some tips to make a study group more effective than the social hour, people stop showing up, so-and-so doesn't follow through free-for-all that so many unsuccessful study groups melt down into.

Have a regular time to meet and a usual length of time to meet. This will give the study group meetings a more formal feel and make it easier for everyone to fit it into their schedules. Limiting the length of time may also assist with keeping things on track during the meeting.

Meet in a library or other quiet setting. Libraries will often have meeting rooms that can be reserved for group work. If you cannot obtain one, find a remote area of the library where the group's discussions are unlikely to disturb anyone. Having a study group at someone's home or at a coffee shop or restaurant will give too much of an informal feel and might lead to a loss of focus.

Keep it small (no more than 6 members). The larger a study group is, the more likely it is to break down due to no shows, social distractions, or members not doing their part. Smaller groups are more likely to feel responsible to one other and self-regulate their behavior.

Limit distractions. Start with checking that everyone's cell phone is off. Computers should be off as well, with the possible exception of one member whose job is to look up answers to disputed questions online if they can't be found otherwise.

Conduct it like a meeting. This may sound rigid, but study groups are organized in order to accomplish work. Having a structure where people take turns in raising questions or presenting material will smooth the process. Have an agenda or goal for each meeting and be sure to agree upon a new agenda at the end of each meeting.

Bring questions to be answered to each meeting. Each member should review all of the materials to be covered at the next meeting and bring specific questions to be answered. Whether they are questions over material the individual found difficult to understand or questions the individual thinks the instructor might ask on the next test, they can be good focus points to keep the group on task.

Share responsibility for material. If your group has four members and there are four chapters on an upcoming test, it might be beneficial to assign primary responsibility for presenting each chapter to each group member. Teaching information to others is a great way to solidify what you've learning.

Have a timer to limit off-topic discussion to 30 seconds. Someone should be responsible for timing and stopping off-topic discussions to help keep the group focused. It might be a good idea for the job of timer to rotate among group members. There also should be an agreed-upon limit of how many off-topic discussions can take place within a meeting period.

Eliminate dead-weight members promptly. We have all been in group work situations where one or more people slack off while the others work frantically to fill the gaps. Don't let this happen in your study group. Those who do not show up or fail to contribute their share to the group should be asked to leave the group as soon as possible. It might be desirable to discuss at the first group meeting what the criteria will be for asking a member to leave.

What's the Best Way to Study?

Here is some wise advice from several psychologists on this age-old question of students everywhere courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.