how to ace finals | Explore Program for Undeclared Students

Every semester it comes around, and every semester I forget about it until I see my final exam dates highlighted in red marker a week or so away and too close for comfort.

Welcome to finals szn.

It has crept up on me once again, and maybe you too—or maybe you’re one of those people who have been anticipating it for a couple of months now and have been properly pacing. Regardless where you fall on the finals readiness spectrum, this is article seeks to give you a little bit of an edge on how to ace your finals and end the academic season strong.

Figure out when/ what finals you have and when they are due

It seems like a given, but sometimes it’s necessary to go back to the basics. Ambiguously knowing what dates your finals fall on is not going to pass the test. Knowing the date/time/location of your final (or project/report) will help you strategically plan out which final is due first and which one you need to spend more time focusing on. Knowing the location (italicized prior) of your exam now, rather than scrambling the day of, will help you stay calm and collected and focused on the material you studied going into the final. I highly recommend printing out a calendar of this month, and writing the exam time and location (or project) on each of the days they are due and hang it over your study area for convenience and ease of access.

Know Your Study Style

Style doesn’t just apply to fashion—it applies to studying as well. And what better time to define your study style then right now, when it counts? According to Learning Styles Online, there are seven different learning styles, but the number of categories/types do widely vary depending on which website/source you search (detailed below):

Visual (spatial):You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

Knowing which study style(s) best fits you will help you craft the idea study plan for each of your finals. For example, I am personally a visual and verbal learner. So when I had my General Chemistry final a couple of semesters ago, not only did I draw various chemical compounds/ concepts, I also had a friend quiz me verbally based on certain concept questions to help me better study for my final. Knowing whether you work better in groups/alone is important too. You want to utilize your best study style strengths to your advantage to best absorb the material you are learning. If you don’t know your style or want to learn more, EducationPlanner.org that has a 20 question quiz you can take to learn a little more (it isn’t buzzfeed, but it is informative!):

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles.shtml

Disclaimer: Education Planner groups learning styles into three categories: Visual, Auditory, and Tactile unlike the seven mentioned prior—but use whichever study styles described best fits you!

Study Space: Environment, Environment, Environment

If you are one of those people who can work anywhere, regardless of what’s going on around you—I admire you. Because I can’t. If I study at home, I make too many frequent trips to the fridge and end up watching Netflix. If my friends and I are studying at first floor of Snell, I spend too much time catching up and not studying. Knowing what environment best fosters your “study genius” is crucial for effective studying.

Here are some of my favorite study spots on campus:

Pavement (on Gainsborough): Pro tip: if you are an early bird like me, 7am-10am are peak quiet hours before the 10/11am rush.
Snell: From the open environment of the first floor, to the no-talking zone of the 4^th floor, Snell has a space for you. If you want to book a colab for you and a couple of friends to go over some study material together make sure to create a reservation in advance! (Link below). Pro tip: Try to reschedule 2-3 days in advance since free slots typically go fast!
- Book a colab here: http://library.northeastern.edu/services/rooms-spaces
afterHours: Starbucks-built in and easy access to Curry Center food, a plus.
Curry Student Center
Richard/ Shillman/ Rider/ Dodge Empty Class Rooms: Ideal for the no-noise study type.
Marino: Easy access to ABP (and a run if you want to blow off some study steam).
EV basement: Where I am currently writing this article
ISEC: lots of rooms and various study spaces available! It also hosts Café Strega (see a coffee-theme yet?)

Take a deep breath and relax

While studying for finals is definitely stressful, remember to take time for yourself. Whether that means taking multiple study breaks, doing all your work in the morning and having the evenings to yourself—do what is best for you. Make sure that you are eating properly/ exercising at a pace that is best for you. While whatever final/ project may seem overwhelming, the first step is to break it down into doable tasks and take it one step at a time. Don’t be intimidated. You got this.