Where do I begin studying?
Studying can be overwhelming, especially since final exams cover a whole year’s worth of material. Start by making a study plan. Look at a monthly and weekly calendar to get perspective and to get your priorities straight. Organize each examinable subject into specific units (look at the Table of Contents in your textbook) and then rank the difficulty of each unit in order to ballpark how long you’ll have to study for each one. Then make a To-Do List of tasks you must do in order to prepare yourself for the test. Be as structured as possible with your time in order to both be on top of things and feel on top of things.
How long should I spend studying for an exam?
I like to think of time spent studying as time spent doing tasks. This takes the mystery and fear out of the elusive art of “studying.” If you are able to divide your study time into a list of tasks you make for yourself, this will help you be more goal-oriented and it will also help you determine how much time you will need to study. Tasks could include organizing your subject into units, creating a set of study notes for each unit, creating flashcards, studying your notes and flashcards, and even getting together with friends to study. A more specific answer to the time question would be begin studying now – two to three weeks before the exam. This allows one week to organize and review all the material, one week to create study notes and other methods of review, and one week to study the notes and to get help on questions or areas of difficulty that have come up.
My biggest problem is being distracted when I study. How do I avoid this?
The first step to solving this problem is realizing that this is a problem for you. Here’s a tip: this is a problem for all of us! The second step is identifying the things that are distracting you. The hard but simple part comes after this: you now need to avoid these distractions. This can be accomplished by creating a study environment where these distractions are left out; for example, studying in a different room than your computer, phone and television. If boredom or restlessness is a problem, it helps to study in short bursts; I would recommend 25 minute “chunks”. If motivation is a problem, or your exam is stressing you out too much to pay attention, put this test into perspective. Is there some bigger reason for why you are writing this exam? What is your ideal outcome? Try to focus on the positive and relax, and remember that staying on top of things – through organization, time management and study “tasks,” – you will not only feel more prepared, you will also be more prepared.
