Finals week is coming up at the end of April, and it’s that time of the year again where college students take their end of the year exams to see what they’ve learned for the semester.
There are several strategies to raise final exam grades without cramming and staying up late. It is wise to show up to your final examinations feeling rested and confident by taking care of your body, planning, and making use of the tools available. There are many resources for the students as well, such as many study sessions, tutoring, and the Melick Library to find books or other sources you may need.
There are numerous ways to help prepare for exams. First, your professors are there to help! Ask them questions regarding the material and the exam so that you are prepared when the test time arrives.
Secondly, know your final exam schedule. If you start preparing ahead of finals week, you’ll never be cramming the night before an exam. You’ll almost always perform better in doing so!
At Eureka College, finals week happens Friday, May 2nd through Tuesday, May 6th and with a Study Day on May 1st dedicated to preparing Eureka students for exams.
Professor Zimmerman, Director of the Learning center, takes time with students over finals week by “tutoring for students working on final papers or presentations.” This is one of the many resources that students have throughout the whole academic school year.
Keyanna Crowder, a junior at Eureka College, prepares for finals by making a Quizlet or utilizing note cards.
“I make note cards of the material and go over them over and over again,” she said.
Nataly Rodriguez, another student here at Eureka, reviews content from class, rewriting it in her own words so it’s easier to study.
“I usually go over mini worksheets from classes, reviewing them and rewriting them out in a way better for me to understand, mostly for my history classes,” she said.
Lastly, a freshman who is new to college and final exams, uses Quizlet as well as trying to wake up early for classes and read a lot.
“I spend a lot of time in the Melick Library during finals,” Jayla Crowder said.
Professors must prepare for final exams and tests as well as the students, though it is a little different.
Humanities Professor Adrian Whitacre gave insight into their preparation of finals week. “The lead-up to finals week, I prepare by getting as much grading done as possible, so that I can stay on top of things and get final grades in quickly,” Dr. Whitacre said.
“At least one week before a final, I give my classes a final exam study guide with vocabulary that they should know and information on the format and content of the exam.”
Professor Zimmerman loves finals weeks at Eureka College, seeing all the students put their energy and focus into their final exams and projects. A tip he has for the students of Eureka is to “study 20 minutes and take a 5-minute break…repeat. Also, finals week is stressful, don’t neglect your personal well-being. Eat well, get 7-8 hours of sleep a night.”
Every student can benefit from a variety of study and exam preparation strategies, and there may be variations in how you approach them. All that counts is that you master the content for your finals and tests in a way that is both comfortable and efficient. With that being said, happy studying and good luck everyone!
