As the academic semester winds down, students find themselves standing at the threshold of the ultimate academic challenge: Finals. These comprehensive exams, often covering an entire semester’s worth of material, can be a source of stress and anxiety for many. It is a time of late-night study sessions and the overall culmination of months of challenging work. With proper preparation and a strategic approach, navigating the finals week can become a manageable and even rewarding experience.
The key to success during finals can be found in effective planning and organization. Students should create study schedules that allocate sufficient time for reviewing each subject. They should work to focus on the most challenging topics first, and utilize tools such as calendars, planners, or productivity apps to stay on top of deadlines and study wisely. Students should find methods and strategies to not only survive but also thrive during this intense period of examinations and deadlines.
Jadon Archer ’24, who has plans to play football in the fall at John Hopkins University, weighed in on his study techniques and how he balances a rigorous schedule. Archer says the most difficult part about finals is “having all the tests at the same time and having to remember everything from the start of the semester.” But there are certainly ways to balance the exams to mitigate the stress and anxiety.
For Archer, he starts studying for finals around three days before his exams. Archer shared, “if it were a math test, I would study a third of the semester every day and on the day before the test I’ll go over everything.” This works well for Archer, but beginning to study a week or two before is also a strong idea.
Mrs. Kramer, the principal of academics at Seattle Prep, advises students to begin their studying a week in advance. This allows for time to review a semester’s concepts and be well prepared before testing. Kramer defines finals as a “balancing act. Prep students juggle a lot. They are involved in a lot of things outside of school: sports, leadership, clubs, drama, art.”
There are many ways to prepare for finals as indicated in the poll answered by Seattle Prep students. For Archer, his favorite method is Quizlets. His advice is to “make the Quizlets yourself.” This helps because “when you get Quizlets from other people, it’s a lot harder to study, but when you are putting your information into the Quizlet yourself you are remembering it better that way.”
Kramer reminds students of the importance of pacing yourself. She says to “keep organized and take breaks from your studying. Having a plan to avoid studying late is key. Have good habits and go for some walks to make sure you do not feel overloaded.”
During finals, it is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students should get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and stay physically active. These factors contribute to overall well-being and can significantly impact cognitive function and concentration. Finals are a stressful and overwhelming experience, but with proper preparation and healthy habits, they are certainly manageable and rewarding when complete.