Start with the organisation
Gather every material and task you need to accomplish all of your exams!
There are plenty of ways to access the information you need: Neptun messages, the Coospace board, Facebook groups, etc.
Don’t be afraid to ask! This is your last chance to clear your thoughts. If you don’t know everything about an exam, feel free to ask your student buddies or even your professors.
Planning is (almost) everything
Creating a clear study schedule is one of the best ways to prepare for your exams. Write down the dates of each of your exams, and think through all the topics, learning materials and additional tasks you need to do for the exams.
Plan how much time you need for each exam! Think about the requirements and the amount of study needed to prepare and allocate your time accordingly. Do not leave everything to the last minute, give yourself enough time to study and memorise the course material.
Create a manageable schedule for your tasks. Giving yourself an unrealistic expectation of how much you can get done in a day is only going to set you up for failure. Plus, it would be difficult to maintain this level of productivity for a long period – you will just end up burnt out and tired. A well thought-out and rigorous plan can both protect you from burnout andprocrastination.
- set a daily schedule
- stick to your timeline
- write a list of three things you want to do each day
- lower your expectation, and don’t set up unrealistic goals
- limit distraction
Use your learning style
When studying for the finals, just remember that you have managed most of your university years with success and that the bigger part is already behind you! You just need to use the learning styles that you have mastered throughout the years. If you are more like a colour code person, use colourful notes, flashcards, graphs, mind maps or charts to boost your memory! You can combine learning styles too to be more productive! All students use different techniques, which means you need to find and use the learning styles that suit you best.
Test yourself
Making up questions from study material helps you to see the lecture from another perspective.
Once you memorized the material, try testing yourself each day! Cover your notes and try explaining them to yourself. Think about the exam questions with your professor’s head and create actual questions in advance, so you will get more familiar with the topics.
Pro tip: find a study partner! Explaining study materials to your classmates helps you to retain more information. It can also prevent you from procrastination.
Take care of yourself
Especially during the exam period staying hydrated, getting enough exercise and sleep, and eating well are all incredibly important. Even if you feel guilty to rest at that time of the year, it is good to know that enough resting is the part of preparing for your exams. During sleeping or doing something else, your brain gets some fresh air, and it will work more efficiently. Start your day with a healthy breakfast, take breaks regularly, and go for a walk to freshen up or meditate sometimes.
During preparation and exams, it is important to know that your grades do not define you. Go into the exam knowing that you have done everything you can to pass. See the whole exam situation as part of the learning process. Learn from your mistakes so that you can do even better next semester.
Good luck with your exams!
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