chapter 15
17 Strategies for Acing the Final Exam
1: Start Studying the Last Week of the Semester (If Possible)
Often there's something of a lull in the last week of the semester. The reading for the class tapers off (or might disappear altogether, if the professor is planning to spend class time catching up); the section meeting has nothing new to say (but is set aside for a general review or practicing sample questions for the final); and sometimes, if you really hit it right, the class is canceled altogether (because it's snowing or the professor doesn't want to start a new topic). And you, reasonably enough, think it's a good time to take it easy, have a break, and get rested for the final.
Bad ideas. All. A much better idea is to get cracking on the final preparation the week before exam week. You see, if you confine your preparing to the actual exam week (as many students do), you'll inevitably find yourself having to take an exam and prepare for another exam -- both on the same day. Here's how it might go. You have a Chemistry exam from 7:30 to 9:30 AM (or even till 10:30, depending how long exams are in your school.) Get back to your place at 11:15, time for breakfast/lunch. Relax for an hour or two. And now it's 2 PM. You're dead tired -- and somewhat depressed, too. You keep going over those Chemistry problems again and again in your mind (more on this later). And then -- it's time to start preparing for your Russian history class.
Better idea? Start preparing for your exams the week before. When you don't have to write exams and prepare for new exams on the same day....
