How I Study For Finals

I'm very very picky when it comes to studying finals. I probably over do it honestly. I'm going to break it down for you from start to finish. This is my study method for a LECTURE class. Which is what I'm sure most of you have. But, I have two lab classes that just require presentations and drawings so it's a different story. I hope these work for you, let me know!

1// Plan

Start with your planner. Write down every exam you have when, where and what time. That way when we get to the next step you can work backwards and know what you have to study by when.

Hopefully by now you have highlighters that color code each of your classes. This is how it goes for mine:

Orange: Blog, dates, shows, etc. 

Blue: Drawing for the Interior Designer

Pink: Interior Design Fundamentals (Lecture)

Purple: Interior Design Fundamentals (Lab)

Yellow: Lifetime Physical Activity and Fitness 

Green: Environmental Biology

  

Write a list (separating by Monday/Wednesday Classes and Tuesday/Thursday classes)

Write the class name and what day you have that exam. Next, write a whole entire inclusive list of EXACTLY what you're going to do to study. As you do them, obviously cross them off. I've already taken my Fitness exam, so everything is crossed off, even the class name. That way I don't even have to worry about looking at that section! This is going to help you even more when we get to the next step. 

I was really worried I wasn't going to have enough time to study and do everything I felt like I needed to do to study so I wrote down EXACTLY what I was going to do each day to get ready for the exams. I even wrote what Christmas movies were coming on so I wouldn't miss them. And I can reward myself for working so hard all day! It will probably help you to work backwards from the exam date. And also write this on computer paper so you're not limited to lines. Highlight the name of the class (in it's color) and the date (in it's color - orange for mine) so you can reference everything and know exactly what you're looking at when you glance down. This gives you an exact play-by-play on what you need to do that day. This takes a while but it seriously saves you SO much time later. Also, if you get behind you know what you need to catch up on, and if you need to do something before or after you originally scheduled it, you can easily move ahead, highlight to show you're done, and then go back!

This is HALF the battle. 

2 - Study Time//

Again, I've said I'm pretty excessive when it comes to studying. So if you feel like something is redundant, or won't help you, feel free to ignore it and add in your own favorite studying methods!

First I started off with going to the first chapter in the book and writing down the chapter name, and number. Now, I cannot and will not read the entire book. I just can't sit there and do that. I don't have the attention span for it. But by all means, if you can DO IT. So, I got myself some computer paper and (like I said) wrote down the chapter number and title.

Next, I got to each section and write the section name in huge letters and the little description under. It gives a basic overview of what those few paragraphs are about in just a sentence without having to read the whole thing. And when you're done with a chapter you basically have an outline of the entire chapter on a few sheets of paper to review.

At the end of every chapter in my biology book there's a two page summary of the entire chapter broken down by section. If you have this READ IT. More than once. My book also has questions, if yours does too, DO THEM. My book doesn't have the answers so I actually have to go and look them up to see if I got them right. If you see the little slanted words above each question in pencil, I wrote the definitions of words I didn't understand so when I go back I know exactly what I'm talking about. 

FLASH CARDS. They are THE best invention by far. Every book has vocabulary, and how do you expect to understand the content of the book if you don't understand the words? Make flashcards so you can make sure you understand definitions too!

After you're done, binder clip everything you just did to the back of the chapter so it all stays together. The book gets pretty thick, but that's okay, all you have to do is carry that around to the library, study rooms, or even if you're just sitting at your desk. Everything is just right here!

Now go on and do that for every chapter. (I have 18 chapters so you see why I'm starting early...)

If you're looking for even more tips, check out the posts below that I wrote last week! 

Finals and Studying Tips

Perfect Studying Stations

Study Break Ideas (Look out for this post on Saturday the 13th!)

I hope you found a new study method! I'm ALWAYS looking for new study techniques. Do you have any good ones that I didn't mention?