Questioning your preparation as you anticipate finals is totally normal – check out these 3 strategies to optimize your performance.
Final exam season and the anticipation of wrapping things up are typically top of mind as you enter the home stretch of a term. Even the coolest of cucumbers have some uncertainty during finals!
Questions tend to surface such as: Will I pass? Am I prepared? What if the final brings down my grade? What will be asked on the final? Will I have enough time for a thorough review?
This is a normal part of the exam experience.
- Know all your exam dates and times.
- Schedule study blocks, this gives you more control over your week.
Pro Tip:Add up your points in each class to determine what papers, projects, final assignments to prioritize and what you need on the final to elevate or maintain your grade.
- Take yourself off the back burner! We often put ourselves last when stressed. Give yourself a little bit of time each day to move, walk, or work out to boost your brain health.
“Physical activity can improve your cognitive health—helping you think, learn, problem-solve, and enjoy an emotional balance.”Centers for Disease Control. “
Physical Activity Boosts Brain Health.” (2023)
- Pause and take deep breaths to decrease your stress response when feeling overwhelmed.
- Write down your end-of-semester goals – identify why achieving these goals is important to you, and what you will gain.
“Vividly describing your goals in written form is strongly associated with goal success, and people who very vividly describe or picture their goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 (20-40%) times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals than people who don’t.”Forbes. “
Neuroscience Explains Why You Need to Write Down Your Goals If You Actually Want to Achieve Them.” (2018)
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