Even after weeks of hard work and dedication committed to your studies, your academic achievements and educational progress may come down to a single exam. Usually, this will be taken near the end of the college semester and will determine whether or not you earn a high or a low grade for that class. To make matters even worse, most college courses schedule all of their finals into the same week. This obviously can lead to a lot of stress that makes it significantly harder to focus on studies. We have asked custom term paper writers to offer some valuable advice on the things you can do to survive your first big exam. Here are five of the most effective tips:
- Tip #1) Make Sure You Know When the Exam is Taking Place
First, make sure you know when and where the exam is actually taking place. When it comes to finals week many classes run longer than their usual allotted times and may be held in different classrooms and start at different hours than you are accustomed to. You need to ensure you show up to the exam or everything else on this list and all the hard work you have put into preparing will be moot.
- Tip #2) Get Plenty of Rest in the Days Leading Up to the Exam
First-year students tend to lose track of their responsibilities and procrastinate, resulting in loss of sleep. This sleep deprivation is also referred to as sleep debt and can be lead to stress and an inability to concentrate in class and at home. You need to set goals and make sure that you are getting the recommended number of sleep hours per night for your age (between 8 – 9 hours). Get to bed early and avoid caffeine in the late afternoons and early evenings.
- Tip #3) Keep a Physically Active Lifestyle in the Week Prior
Sometimes your weekly class schedule will prevent you from keeping physically active during your first semester at college, especially because you are getting used to a hectic lifestyle where your schedule is different throughout the week and your new responsibilities are hard to keep in order. Try to find shortcuts in order to keep active. For instance, take stairs instead of elevators, try walking to classes instead of taking shuttles, and consider joining an intramural sports team.
- Tip #4) Make Sure You Stick to a Healthy Diet of Brain Food
There have been several research studies that indicate students’ weight tends to fluctuate as much as 15lbs in their first year at college. There are several factors leading to this drastic change, including lack of sleep, poor exercise, feelings of stress, and poor diets. Try not to eat at odd hours in the day or night. Keep to a regular schedule and always choose healthy foods over fast foods when you have the option.
- Tip #5) Make Sure You Don’t Get Distracted with Social Media
One of the biggest time wasters college students face today is social media. Just think about how many times you check your accounts per day and how long you are likely to spend on each one. It’s probably more than an hour right? That’s a generous estimate. But over the course of the week, you lose an entire workday. Shut down your accounts entirely or set strict time limitations to keep you from getting too distracted to study.
Performing well on your first big exam may seem like a daunting task. Try these tips to minimize your worry and stress and remind yourself that you can do really well if you keep your eyes on the prize. In summary, you need to know when the exam is being held and you need to live a healthy lifestyle in the days leading up to it. This means staying physically active, getting plenty of rest, and eating healthily. And don’t forget about logging off of social media; don’t get distracted.