Although it might seem a little early, final exams will be here sooner than you expect. Here are some tips to help you study for your exams.
Before you begin: Get organized
The first and most important part of studying is making sure you have everything you need. Find a comfortable study space and get your materials ready. The Niner Times has a guide for study spaces on campus if you need it.
Materials can include a laptop or computer and its charger, class textbooks or materials, notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters or index cards, depending on how you like to study. One of the most valuable resources you have is class materials, such as old exams, assignments or notes from your classes. Make a list of assignments and exams based on priority—it is often easier to finish low-effort assignments that have a bigger impact on your grade first before moving on to high-effort assignments.
While studying: Use on-campus resources
Your tuition pays for many on-campus resources to help you succeed. First and foremost, do not be afraid to go to your professor’s or TA’s office hours, usually listed on their syllabus or Canvas page. Even though this advice has been repeated a lot, it is important to know that your professors want to help you succeed.
The University Center for Academic Excellence (UCAE) provides study groups and one-on-one tutoring, both drop-in and by appointment, for a variety of classes. Their schedule can be found on the UCAE website. Other on-campus tutoring resources include:
The Language Resource Center: This is for the Department of Languages, Cultures and Translation, located in Mebane 434. Their website provides information on drop-in tutoring and tutoring by appointment.
The Math Learning Center: This is for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in Fretwell 330. Drop-in tutoring is available Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CCI Undergraduate Tutoring Center: This center is available for the College of Computing and Informatics, located in Burson on the second floor. Information for drop-in and appointment tutoring is available on their website.
The Writing Resources Center: This center provides help with writing assignments across disciplines. It is located in Cameron 125 and Atkins G34. Information on tutoring by appointment is available on its website.
However, if you prefer studying on your own, here are a few study methods to help you get through exam season.
Method 1: The Stoplight Method
If you are a visual person and need help figuring out what topics to focus on, the stoplight method might work well for you. Look at the syllabus, notes or other materials for your class and color code each topic based on how familiar you are with it.
Topics you will need the most help with would be in red, topics you have a loose understanding of but still need help with would be in yellow, and topics you feel confident about would be in green. Focus on studying the red topics first before moving on to the yellow and green sections. Studying the topics you are least sure about first may seem overwhelming, but it is better to get these topics out of the way before you get tired or too distracted.
Method 2: Engage with the material
Reading and rereading your notes might not be enough to gain a more in-depth understanding of the material. If you have access to them, look back at old exams or assignments to determine what to expect from your next exam.
If your exam is cumulative, look at old questions you answered incorrectly, figure out what you did wrong and keep track of any mistakes you repeat several times. Create your own exam questions for topics to test your knowledge. With this method, interacting with the material is what will help you the most, so it is better to create your own rather than looking for already created materials online. Also, rewriting the information will help retain it in your memory.
Method 3: Listen to the material
This method is for people who learn best through auditory learning. If your classes do not have prerecorded lectures, record your notes from class in a quiet environment and listen back to these recordings to prepare for your exam.
Along with hearing your notes back, reading them out loud can also help you retain the information. If you do not like hearing the sound of your voice, consider putting a voice filter over the recording.
Additional tips
Fuel your mind and body while you are studying to prevent brain fog and improve concentration. The library has vending machines with snacks, several dining options within a short walking distance and Starship robots that deliver food.
If time allows, having several shorter study sessions over a few days or weeks instead of one long session can help you deeply retain more information.
Find connections between topics in different classes and use them to further your understanding of them.
Taking short breaks while studying is an important part of long study sessions to keep your mind fresh. The average person can only study for around 40 minutes before their mind starts wandering, but this number can be different for everyone. To help you stay on track, avoid social media while taking a break and instead do something like having a snack, talking to a friend or taking a short nap.
For some people, studying with another person nearby can help them stay on track.
Block out as many distractions as you can. Put your phone somewhere you cannot see it, listen to non-distracting music and write down any unurgent distracting thoughts rather than acting on them.