Stay Calm, Positive, and Focused
The end of the semester is really stressful for many students. However, even though this is a challenging time in school, the key to remembering all the concepts you have learned is to study everything step by step, and not cram your brain with too much information at one time.
The best thing to do at the end of the semester is to gather all your notes, the chapters you studied in your textbooks, and any final exam worksheets your teacher may have given you. Then prepare a study plan for the few weeks from now up until final exams, which will take place shortly before Christmas break.
Study Plan: Practical Tips
- This week, ask your instructor any last-minute questions about difficult subjects and topics. Write down all this information, because more likely than not, you will see it again. When in the study hall, don’t waste that time talking to friends—begin studying your easiest coursework, the subject(s) you are strongest in. This will give you confidence, ease your final exam anxiety, and keep your mind going once you begin studying more difficult coursework.
- Once you are at home, in the afternoons, gather all the harder subjects, which for most students are usually math, science, and English. Begin by eating a quick snack, and getting a bottle of water to refresh your mind and body in between study breaks.
- Start reviewing all your notes on topics covered this semester, reading them thoroughly. Make sure you have your textbook for that subject and that your notes are written neatly and legibly. For example, with math and science courses, look for similar examples in your textbook based on the chapter your teacher covered in class.
- Notice how your teacher derived the correct answer, and if you don’t quite understand the way they solved the problem, look through your textbook. Or find a YouTube educational video that explains this same type of math or science concept and watch it a couple of times while taking notes.
On Test Day: Breathe Deeply and Take Your Time
For the test day, make sure you get a lot of rest the night before. Drink water and eat fruit, not sugar snacks; this can relax you while you sleep. The next morning, eat a healthy breakfast.
Don’t panic as you go to your homeroom, thinking about your first-period exam. Have faith in yourself and your ability that you will pass each exam, and take it one class period at a time.
Remember to keep your cell phone turned off, notebooks and textbooks closed. Then, take your time and read your directions carefully for each section of the exam. Do not rush through your test—take your time, so you can answer every question.
On harder questions, especially math and science, rework your problem until you see the best possible answer listed.
After finishing your first exam, go over your work, carefully reviewing all your answers in the allotted hour. Do not let a minute be wasted.
As you go through each exam throughout the day, continue to tell yourself you are doing well and you got this. Keep your head held high and know that you are doing your best. Because when you do your best, that is all you can do.
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