As finals approach, students may feel overwhelmed by their classes and unsure where to start with preparation. Fortunately, experienced individuals on campus offer valuable study advice to help students succeed.
“Revise – look back through your notes,” said Amanda Davison, a World History and AVID teacher. “Don’t just read through your notes. Actually, like, create a study schedule for yourself.”
Many students struggle with time management. Senior Luke Hinkle advises against staying up until 3:00 a.m., especially if it ends up becoming gaming or scrolling through social media. He provides one way for students to balance work and entertainment.
“Try taking intermittent breaks between activities – study for an hour, then doomscroll for half an hour… study, then doomscroll, repeat!” said Hinkle.
By breaking up study sessions this way, students can be productive for longer periods.
Danielle Schwartz, an IB History of the Americas teacher, recommends using flashcards as one study technique. In her IB HOTA Year 2 class, Schwartz had her students play Heads-Up with flashcards to prepare for their exams.
“Make studying fun. Study with your friends, take breaks. It shouldn’t just only be torture,” said Schwartz.
While it’s important to set study time aside, teachers emphasize the importance of sleep.
“I think one of the most important things to remember in preparing for finals is to get a good night of sleep the night before,” said Davison. “If you’re exhausted, the pathways to that information in your brain – it’s gonna get lost along the way.”
“If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain isn’t functioning, and that increases your level of stress because you’re like, why can’t I remember things?” said Schwartz.
Students also need to remember they can seek guidance from their teachers and peers.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek guidance! It’s the most effective way in which you can better your chances as we face these seemingly endless number of exams,” said Hinkle.
Incorporating these study tips can make a significant difference in preparing for finals. With that said, here are some final words from a couple of teachers to students as they continue to prepare:
Amanda Davison, World History and AVID teacher
“One final is not going to determine your future for the rest of your life. So if you’re really tired the night before and you’re freaking out that like your life is over, your life is not over. Sometimes it’s about thinking about things on a scale of one to 10, 10 being death, a final is not going to kill you. It may feel like it metaphorically, but remember to be kind to yourself, set yourself up for success as much as you can, and when you’re in that final, all you can do is what’s in that moment, and that’s your best.” – Davison
Danielle Schwartz, IB HOTA teacher
“Believe in yourself, but also take accountability, right? You can do it. You can do these hard things, but you have to actually do the work at the end of the day.” – Schwartz
