OPINION: Study strategies that might surprise you

Exam's for the fall 2012 semester will begin on Dec. 12 (Photo courtesy of Alberto G./Flickr)

Final exams are just around the corner. This time of year can be blissful or agonizing. Some students may be blessed with a reduced exam load, while others are trying to resolve any exam time conflicts. There will be plenty of stress in dealing with final exams. However, the key to finishing the semester well is having a finals week game plan.

Here are some useful strategies inspired by Cal Newport’s book How to Become a Straight- A Student.

1. Study for at least 30 minutes, but for no more than an hour. Efficiency   matters more than quantity. Keeping the study periods short makes it easier to retain information. Studying for more than an hour – nonstop – reduces the ability to focus. In addition, it allows outside distractions to take over.

2. Find an alternate study area. The library, computer lab or study longue in the residential areas are great places to study. They create a sense of isolation in which few distractions exist. Studying in the dorm room rarely helps. It can build up anxiety and led to procrastination. Additionally, alternative study places make executing study plans, without anxiety and distractions, a lot easier.

3. Make time for yourself. Sleep and downtime are important. While the upcoming week may make relaxation difficult, it is important to make it a priority. Rest increases alertness and concentration, alleviating the headache of finals week.

4. Adjust your schedule. Finals week is not the time for a lot of extra commitments. At this time, all efforts toward the exam must come first. This means time allocated for jobs or other responsibilities may need to be reevaluated. There is no need to have several other responsibilities, especially if the exam grade comes back lower than expected. Let family, friends, supervisors and all others know about upcoming exams; they may understand your busy schedule.

5. Don’t overplay it. Remember the laid back classmate. They look relaxed and do minimal work, but they always do better on exams – how can that be? They tackle exams with confidence and try to keep from putting too much pressure on themselves. This strategy works because minimal effort is used—the only goal is to pass the exam. You should consider this approach.

Hopefully, these strategies will help in preparing other students with a game plan for finals. This upcoming week won’t be easy, but it is possible to get through it. The main things we must remember are to steer clear of distractions and avoid anxiety. Finals week will end with a winter break on the horizon

Opinions expressed in this column are solely the beliefs of the writer. 

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