THE END IS NEAR: EXAM SUCCESS
- Kristy Abd-El-Malak
- Dec 10, 2017
- 2 min read
We are so close, don’t lose momentum! With only three days left in the semester, we hope you salvage your grades if needed and exceed your own expectations. In honor of killing your remaining exams, here are a few tips to help get you through:
Ditch cramming
As appealing as cramming seems, don’t do it. You might think having all that information fresh in your mind will help you just regurgitate it on your exam, but when you cram, information just doesn’t stick. Some study patterns include:
i. Study for 35-45 minutes, and relax for the remaining hour. Repeat
ii. Study for 20 minute intervals with a 5-10 minute break in between each.
iii. If timed sections don’t work for you, determine a place ahead of time you think is a safe spot to stop, and give yourself a treat once you complete that section.
For example, whenever I read a page of a book, I eat a starburst to reward myself.
Get rest!
All-nighters can be fun! They also wreck your body the next day. You need sleep to retain information. Hopefully if you don’t procrastinate, you won’t run into this problem. However, rest is imperative to success. You regenerate not only your body, but your mind. Do yourself a favor and catch some Z’s
Eat well and exercise
When you study, your brain uses Glucose so eating plenty of fruits and veggies helps maintain your focus and increases energy levels.
Allocating time to exercise is extremely difficult during exams where academics takes precedence over body. However, you can do both. When you take a break during studying, walk around and stretch wherever you are. Remaining stagnant while studying can make you sleepy or completely lose focus. Taking a small walk around the library and conversing with friends (for five minutes, not a whole hour!!) can be the pick-me-up your brain and body needs.
Find the right spot
The library is great and all, but sometimes it’s just too much. During finals, we all know the library is the go-to place to study. However, if everyone is flocking the library, it can become a loud, distracting place. Trying a new spot out to study switches up your routine and can keep you more focused.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Exams can be abusive not only to your physical health, but also to your mental health. It is easy to get bogged down in stressful thoughts: “I’m not going to succeed”, “I’m going to fail”, “This is too hard and too much, my professor is crazy!”
We’ve all been there, done that.
But I want to tell you that you are more than enough. One final exam grade does not define you. One screw-up on your transcript does not mean you aren’t smart. Bombing a section does not mean you’ll fail. Have more confidence in yourself. Know that you are worth so much more than a grade. In the grand scheme of things, you will most likely succeed and the stress you feel now will be miniscule to the stress you might feel later on in life. You are smart and you deserve to be here, so believe in yourself!
Also, take advantage of everything your school offers you. Here is a list of Cofc's Cougar Countdown events
Good luck! We believe in you!
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