Don’t Stress Exam Week!

Molli Franz ’13

Staff Writer

With exam week right around the corner the expected stress symptoms are beginning to set in: disorganization, meltdowns, constantly thinking about what you still have to do, cramming, or randomly waking up in the middle of the night yelling the Pythagorean theorem. Trust me we’ve all been there, and it is not fun. To help you avoid these stressful situations I have compiled a list of simple yet effective steps that will put you on the right path to your dream exam week: stress free.

1. Get Organized: Make a schedule for the next two weeks by writing down the week days, every class, and the amount of time you feel is necessary to study for them each day. For the week before exams I recommend studying for each class for 30 minutes everyday. On the weekend before I normally study for half of my classes an hour each on Saturday and the other half for an hour each on Sunday (maybe more depending on the difficulty). Stick to your schedule and don’t deviate. During exam week focus on the two exams you are taking the next day. It may seem like a lot of studying, but you want to be confident when you walk into your exams. Just think after Thursday you can crash for the entire weekend.
2. Study Breaks: With the intense schedule above you’re going to need a lot of breaks to cure your fried brain. Normally after I study for an hour I need some type of break to clear my thoughts and prepare me for the next subject. So take a break, eat a snack, take a walk, do some exercises, do something you enjoy! Do this for at least 20 minutes and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to begin again.
3. Study Groups: Studying with another person I feel is the best way to study. By studying with a friend or a small group of friends you not only can quiz one another, but you can discuss and compare your study guides. Also you can make sure you have all the right answers so you’re not studying the wrong thing for your exams. Studying in groups can be very successful EXCEPT WHEN: studying with more than four people. Once you hit that five it’s turned into more of a party than a study session, and all you’ll get accomplished is hearing about the latest gossip.
4. Flashcards, Flashcards, Flashcards: Flashcards are a key study item for me as well. I write down my entire study guides onto flashcards and am constantly going through them over and over again. Flashcards are an easy way to burn the information in your brain by having the question and answer in front of you instead of on a jumbled up piece of paper. Trust me, THEY WORK.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Whether it’s from your parents, your classmates, or your teachers. Don’t be afraid to ask, people are more willing than you think. My mom literally has helped me so much during exams whether it’s going through flashcards or making me a small snack. Also ask your teachers! They are constantly in their rooms during exam week and would be more than willing, even happy, to help. Word to the wise: Don’t go in the morning of your exam for help…they don’t appreciate that.