Finals week is the most important week of the semester for every student. Although it might not be possible to completely avoid stress during finals week, here are some tips on how to stress less and do great on exams!  

1. Plan everything and pay attention to deadlines

The most important thing to do is to make sure you don’t forget anything; it will help you to avoid stress and get good grades. Write down the work that needs to be done, make sure every assignment is submitted, and the midnight deadlines won’t be a surprise.  

2. Contact your professor or sign up for tutoring

Some material may be too complicated to understand from one lecture, and that’s okay! Lindenwood provides plenty of opportunities to reach out for academic help. You can talk to your professor during office hours or set up an appointment with a tutor here.   

3. Study with classmates

Study groups tend to be more effective than studying by yourself. To get the most out of study groups, try using the “learning by teaching” method. Teaching and explaining concepts to one another will not only help you to memorize the material, but also make the study time more fun.  

4. Take breaks from studying

Studying non-stop may seem quite effective, yet usually it’s not. When we stay tensed for too long, the brain loses focus which leads to less effective studying. One of the most popular studying techniques is “50 to 5″. Fifty minutes of studying and five minutes of rest.  

5. Get enough sleep and rest

Sleep is always the key to success. It is well-known that human bodies cannot properly function without resting enough. Balancing studying, good sleep, and rest will always make you productive and ready to work.  

6. Use different resources

Following the study guide from your professor is obviously a good idea, but it shouldn’t be the only study source. It might be helpful to review your textbook, notes, recorded lectures, and any other possible resources. 

7. Quiz yourself before the actual exam

Test anxiety is very common among students. That is why taking quizzes before the actual exam can be really helpful. Quizzing yourself will make you feel more prepared as well as help you identify your weak and strong topics.  

8. Change up your study space

Studying in bed might be comfortable, but it’s not the best atmosphere to work in. Going to the library, coffee shop, or simply a desk in your room will help to set up the “study mode”.  See what the best study spots are on campus here. 

9. Check your exam times

Just like any assignment deadline – you don’t want to miss your exam. Make sure to double-check your exam times and dates to avoid any possible problems.  

10. Reward yourself

Every student should be proud of themselves for getting so far through the semester. Sixteen weeks of essays, papers, books, quizzes, and tests are not easy. That is why rewarding yourself is important. It will boost you up and motivate to get more things done.  

In order to survive finals week, you need to: study wisely, take breaks, watch deadlines, ask for help, and reward yourself!