Scott's Health Tips:
Finals Preparation
Health Tip #15, 5 December 1996
Yes, it�s that dreaded time of year again — the pre-vacation weeks where these last three-hour exams will determine if we should still bother applying to graduate school, if our scholarships will continue for another semester, or if our parents will keep helping to pay for our "education". Finals! Some of you will be studying like mad up until the very minute of the exam, and some of you (us) are already saying, "To hell with it. It�s too late to get a decent grade anyway!" To both groups of you, I�d like to offer some study tips to make the time that you study as beneficial as possible.
Remove Distractions — That means no Internet, no e-mail, and no network games. Of course, no offense to Unit 3 by that! Just get away from your computer, stereo, and TV set to find a quiet environment where you can actually concentrate without being disrupted. Go to the library or a study center.
Don�t Procrastinate — Okay, so you�ll think about it tomorrow because tomorrow�s another day, right? Keep saying that everyday and you�ll never get around to studying!
Positive Attitude — I know what you�re thinking, Yeah right! Sure, it�s difficult to have a positive attitude about torturous classes like Physics, but you should at least try. Find something in the subject that is meaningful to you and ask questions that will spark some kind of interest. Reward yourself with food or breaks (see "Remove Distractions") after little tasks are completed.
Boredom — Work for shorter periods of time, study with friends. Try to use all parts of the brain by vocalizing, visualizing, and symbolizing.
Repetition — Use review sheets, reread the chapters, make flash cards, practice. Use review sheets, reread the chapters, make flash cards, practice.
Sleeping & Eating — Those all-nighters can often do more harm than good when you become too tired to take the exam. Do your studying ahead of time so this won�t happen. Be sure also that you�re eating healthily. Pizza and Wheat-Thins won�t cut it.
�Twas The Night Before... — My high school Calculus teacher used to tell us to watch a comedy movie the night before so that we are not too stressed out the next morning. I don�t know how helpful this is, but at least it sounds fun! But if you cram: look for the main points of the chapters and lectures and write in your own words, remember the essential facts, memorize definitions.
Source:
"Study Tips: Managing Test Anxiety & Stress", UHS, 1996.
FREEBORN HALL
Unit 1, 2650 Durant Avenue
University of California at Berkeley
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