At the Finish Line – How to Prepare Effectively for Your Exams
Once again, we’ve reached that point in the semester when the freedom and calmness of the academic term are gradually replaced by the looming pressure of upcoming exams. At times like this, many of us may feel unmotivated or even uncertain about how to catch up on missed material. If you’re feeling this way, don’t worry – nothing is lost yet! You still have an entire month to prepare. To help you make the most of the remaining time, we’ve put together a few tips for effective studying.
Create a plan! One of the biggest sources of stress during exam season is the overwhelming number of deadlines, assignments, and tasks. If just thinking about them feels exhausting, start by writing everything down. First, gather all your exam dates and assignment deadlines, then arrange them in chronological order. This will give you a clear overview of what requires your urgent attention and what can wait. Next, for each exam or assignment, break down what needs to be done, whether it’s writing, reading, or memorising, into smaller, manageable steps. By dividing big tasks into smaller ones, they become more approachable and less intimidating, making it less likely that you’ll procrastinate. And just like that, you’ve created a detailed study plan for all your subjects. Now, all that’s left is to stick to it. Start with your assignments! If a course requires you to submit an assignment, it’s best to complete it as early as possible so you can focus entirely on studying for the exams. This way, you’ll avoid the last-minute rush, the stress that comes with it, and the risk of not finishing on time. What’s more, there’s no better motivation than the satisfaction of completing a task well before the deadline! Gather all your notes! One of the most time-consuming parts of studying is taking notes, so it’s best to deal with this step before the exam period starts. This way, all that’s left to do is to learn them. Take notes from reading materials or lecture recordings, summarise PowerPoint slides, digitise handwritten notes, and ask classmates for anything you might have missed. The key is to have everything organised in one place. Once this is done, you’ve already overcome the hardest part! Prepare based on your professor’s expectations! Just as every professor has their own teaching style, their exam methods might vary as well. Before diving into studying, try to gather information about the types of questions or tasks likely to appear on the exam. You can do this by reflecting on your class experiences, like paying attention to the topics they explained in detail or explicitly stated as important. You can also ask upper-year students about the types of questions they faced in previous exams. Additionally, find out whether the professor focuses on specific readings or just on lecture materials. If detailed knowledge of the literature isn’t required, you can save valuable study time. All of this will help you tailor your study strategy and focus your efforts on what matters most. Try different study methods! If you often feel like you’re only retaining half of what you study, that it takes too long, or that you struggle to focus, it might be time to upgrade your study techniques. This month is the perfect opportunity to experiment and figure out what works best for you. Start by identifying your learning style: Do you learn better on your own or in a group? You can find videos and quizzes online to help with this. Once you know your preferred style, search for study techniques specifically designed for it. At first, this might seem like a waste of time, but in the long run, it’ll save you a lot of effort and make studying much more effective. Don’t forget to rest! With the constant challenges of the next few months, it’s easy to neglect your health and well-being. However, to prepare effectively, Make time for activities that help you relax, whether it’s a night out with friends, a movie marathon, or anything else that allows you to unwind. Also, don’t forget to eat regularly and get at least eight hours of sleep each night. Trust us, rest is productive too! We hope these tips make this stressful period a little easier and help you achieve results you can be proud of. Wishing you the best of luck with your preparation and exams! Translated by: Zoé Eötvös
you need to take care of yourself both mentally and physically.
