Work Smarter, Not Harder: Rocking Your Final Exams
Part 2
The end is near. The question is, are you going out in a blaze of glory during your final exams, or are you going to crash and burn?
I vote for the first one. Here’s some ideas how to help yourself finish the school year strong.
Get Organized. Read more.
Put together a study group for your different subjects.
Study Groups can be beneficial, or they can be a huge Time-Suck. Your job is to make sure you don’t waste your time.
How? Glad you asked.
- Try to include someone who knows more than you. You want to be able to verify and clarify.
- Include someone who needs more help in the subject than you do. The best way to learn something is to teach it.
- Do not include anyone in the group who you have a crush on.
- Make sure the people you include have the same goals as you.
- Set up a weekly meeting schedule from now until the exam. Enter all of this into your calendar. If you are relying on your folks for a ride, you better include them in the scheduling conversation.
- Meet in person at someone’s house or the library. (I don’t recommend coffee-shop-type-places because someone you know may show up and distract the group.)
- If meeting in person is too hard to coordinate, Skype, or have an online meeting.
What do you do when you meet?
Glad you asked.
- Go through the year’s notes to make sure you have a complete set between you. Make sure everyone has everything.
- Create flashcards for your vocabulary, important dates and people, math equations, etc. There are many online flashcard programs, some of which are provided by your textbook company to go along with the chapters. Compete with the group members.
- Compile your questions and take them to your teacher ASAP so you can get any confusion cleared up.
Don’t wait for your school to hand out the exam schedule. Get started now. When the exam rolls around, you’ll be glad you did.
