Exam Week survival guide pt. 1

Welp. We have one more week until finals. I guess we should be productive or something.

Let’s get crackin’.

Plan it out.

Study strategies are not a one-size-fits-all (and honestly neither are most clothes, but that’s beside the point), so I’m just going to give you a few things to consider, and you can figure out what works best for you. If you don’t know that yet, don’t worry, just experiment!

  • Review by week, by day, by hour.
  • Be patient with yourself and set realistic goals.
  • Find a place to study. Make a good environment.
  • Set clear start and stop times. Don’t forget to take breaks.
  • Utilize your resources. Pop by office hours, meet with a group if that’s what you need.

Self-Scheduled Exams.

Because of the Academic Honor Code, we have something awesome called Self-Scheduled Exams. It’s perfect for those of us who get anxiety in traditional testing environments (side-eye at those teachers in high school who paced around the room and looked over our shoulders while we were trying to take their darn test).

Some exams are in-class, some are self-scheduled, and some are take-home, so ask your professors to make sure which it is.

Self-scheduled exams come in their own variety as well, so make sure you know whether it’ll need to be taken in a room designated for open-book exams, or if you can take it in any one of the designated self-scheduled rooms. Once again, ask your professors if there are ambiguities.

Check the exam schedule to see when self-scheduled exam times are offered. When scheduling your block, take into account your test-taking habits and preferences: When is your energy highest? Do you like to study right before a test or wake up in the morning and take it?

If you have any other questions about self-scheduled exams, ask your Peer Mentor and they’ll be happy to help you navigate it.

Practice self-care.

As prepared as we are, most of us endure much more stress than usual with final exam period looming overhead, and that’s totally normal. It’s the final stretch, and I know that many of us will work as hard as it’ll take to ace our finals, but while you’re taking care of your academics, don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Self-care boosts efficiency, because when your mind, body, and soul is in a better state, you will perform better. Crazy concept huh?

Sleep. Eat. Drink (water). Stay active. Surround yourself with positive people. And do anything else that makes you feel good. BAM. You got this.

**Some tips inspired by resources from the Bryn Mawr College Undergraduate Dean’s Office & Peer Mentoring Services. We could all do with utilizing more of our resources 😉