It’s that time of the year again! In a few short months, it will be June, so now is the time to get started preparing for Final Exams! Most students can agree that taking Final Exams is a daunting experience—one filled with stressful late night study sessions and last minute collaborations on Facebook study guides. However, it’s important to be well prepared in order to ace these exams.

The first step to doing well on Final Exams is to start studying early! Go back through your notes and figure out what topics you need help with and go to SGI for these topics. Many teachers have specific days to review the different topics so make sure you find out their schedules ASAP.

“Study ahead of time and make flashcards for certain subjects to make it easier to study vocabulary. Review notes, tests, and homeworks,” Kaitlin Ma ’17 said.

Additionally, be sure to start studying for your exam at least a week before you actually take it. A lot of material has been covered in the past five months, so you’re going to need a lot of time to relearn it all.

However, if you leave it all until the night before, like we all have done at least once, you may need to cram. But don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world! Just make sure that you review important topics, and don’t spend time on what you don’t think will be on the test.

Furthermore, don’t wait to pack your bag in the morning before you leave your house to go to the test. Pack it the night before so that when you wake up you don’t have to worry about locating your student ID or MetroCard. Be sure to pack: pens and pencils, your student ID, an eraser, and a calculator for the classes that require one.  

“Eat a good breakfast and don’t over-study on the day of the exam,” Tomas Greenberg ’17 said.  “A good breakfast gives the brain the the energy it needs to function at its best, and it’s important to refrain from over-studying so that you don’t become too stressed out and forget everything that you know.”

“Study ahead of time and make flashcards for certain subjects to make it easier to study vocabulary.”

On the morning of the test, be sure to arrive at school at least half an hour before your test begins. This will give you plenty of time to do some last-minute studying, to place your belongings in your locker, and to get settled. Don’t be the student who shows up fifteen minutes after the exam has started!

Finally, Final Exams are only a portion of your grade; if test anxiety kicks in, be sure to take a deep breath and move onto the next question.