How do you prepare for finals?

[BoredDragon]

I got my finals this week and have been studying like a madman for the past few days. While taking slight breaks during this hellish period I started to wonder how other people get ready for the end of the year.

So, escapists how do you prepare for your finals?

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I don't know, studying?

How else would I do it?

 

[Gottesstrafe]

I try to set up cram sessions two weeks in advance. Well, at least before I get sidetracked by The Escapist and CollegeHumor.

 

[JochemDude]

Relaxing, Studying, Gaming, Studying, Getting drunk and getting some downtime with my girl. Repeat
That's how I did it at the time.

 

[nukethetuna]

The same way I prepare for any other exam. Skim the material. Then at the test, barring it being actually difficult, I discern most of the answers with common sense. If it is an essay, I just memorize like 10 major points that I can turn into whatever argument I need.

I'm very good at test taking, but pretty terrible at every other part of college.

 

[PatSilverFox]

I don't study, and ace them anyway.
*shrugs*

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Generally just hard studying. Going over the important topics and doing lots of test papers.

I have to say I'm so happy I'm finished with all those damn tests and assignments. I do, however, have regular recurring dreams that I've got an assignment due or a test tomorrow. I hate those dreams so very, very much.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I prepare the tests, if any, look up when my classes are scheduled to have their exam times, and plan accordingly.

Of course, I'm the one giving the finals, not the one taking them. ^^ Which of course means that I have to grade them afterwards. :\

 

[shadowslayer81]

I generally don't study >_>
There's just not a real reason for me to, I have a way of processing and retaining information.

I didn't even bother when I had to take my APCS test.

 

[blaqknoise]

Just sit around and do nothing.

I wouldn't want to stress myself out, would I? :V

 

[staika]

I study the material on the test and since I do an above average job of taking notes and paying attention during lectures I usually know most of the important points and I usually study the more vague information, dates and locations that could be on the test.

 

[ace_of_something]

in the nude

yes

seriously though; i was a good little student did my assigned readings throughout the semester than came finals and I only had to study maybe 2xs as hard as normal

 

[Zantos]

Panic, do 14 hour shifts in the library, learn everything, pass, chill out afterwards.

 

[The Abhorrent]

It largely depends on the type of course and the format of the exam, but generally speaking it's predominantly reviewing the topics covered throughout the term and some practice thrown in where applicable. If you've been keeping up with your courses, you shouldn't need anything more than that. You should have a firm grasp of the principles at least, and quite often you can simply apply those to solve any question thrown at you. While I try to avoid resorting to this method (can't really get any more "last resort" than it), using the basics I have managed to figure out the concepts during the exam. Either way, you want to understand the core principles behind the subject rather than just memorize & regurgitate.

One exception to my usual method has been the exams in engineering design courses, which are all open-book. As such, they're brutally difficult and there's never enough time to complete them. The weekly three-hour seminars were all pretty much the same thing... except that the professor chops off half an hour without reducing the amount of questions to answer; nevertheless, all that practice was invaluable (if mentally exhausting). Taking the time to label all the relevant pages in your notes and the design handbook is a must, but the courses involve just as much using the regulations as it does your own creativity (the regulations are there to give you an idea of where to start and to verify if your design is adaquate).


There's still few general rules for all exams which have served me well:

• - Get a good sleep in the night before the exam. Nothing worse than writing an exam when you're not fully aware.
  - Don't panic, relax. If you're in too deep, thinking straight is even more important than when you're doing well.
  - When you're at a loss for a question, get started anyhow. You just might figure out what to do while organizing the data.

Plus all the other usual advice.

 

[nyeeh]

Generally I tend to go over my material fairly casually (re-reading/refining my lecture notes) once a week until about a month before finals begin. After that I folow this basic study plan (This may not work for everyone but it works for me):

(Step 1) Get any coursework that needs finishing finished as soon as possible. In other words, make sure it is done before doing any serious cramming. I've tried juggling coursework and exam preparation in the past and this often lead me into a period of relentless procrastination.

(Step 2) Once I've finished any outstanding coursework, split the rest of my month into study days/rest days. Generally I tend to assign them based on a 1:1 ratio (so for example, day 1 = Study day, day 2 = Rest day, day 3 = Study day etc).

(Step 3) On a study day, do intensive cramming. This entails doing practice exam papers, doing extended reading/revision, etc. I tend to crash if I study for long periods of time though so I take a 30min - 1 hour break whenever I:
(1) Finish a practice exam paper.
(2) Become confident in the topic I'm studying (in which case I move on to a new topic after my break)
(3) Finish at least 1 hour of extended study/reading/revision.

(Step 4) On a rest day, I spend most of my time just relaxing. However, for every 2 hours (give or take 30min) of relaxation I do 30 minutes of relaxed study (reviewing lecture notes, reading topic summaries or academic articles).

(Step 5) Repeat steps 3 & 4 until finals begin.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

Relaxing, Studying, Gaming, Studying, Getting drunk and getting some downtime with my girl. Repeat
That's how I did it at the time.

What this guy said, except my study to everything else ratio is skewed dramatically in the favor of everything else but studying.

Seriously. I feel like 75% of my time in college is spent putting off everything until the last minute.

 

[renegade7]

finals are just a combination of everything you've done in school so far. basically, if you've been paying attention in class and doing your homework, you do not need to do anything further. the worst thing you can do on finals week is stress yourself out.

 

[Necator15]

Pretty much just make sure I don't drink too much when I have a final early the next morning.
Oh, I also make absolutely sure I have my calculator.
Been paranoid about that ever since I forgot it for a P-Chem test once. Was not fun.

 

[Seieko Pherdo]

Skim stuff before test, or just wing it.

 

[triggrhappy94]

Well i never study, but I think I should for my Spanish 3 final