How to Study for an Exam Process Essay

A cumulative exam, or final is a test given to students at the end of a course of study. Studying for a final cumulative exam can be both a stressful and scary time. Most high schools, colleges, and universities have final exams at the end of a particular academic term, semester, or more traditionally at the end of a complete course. These tests can be worth high percentages of your grade and can determine how well you do in a class.

There are many steps to being able to take these tests well but they begin long before the studying for the test actually begins.

To be successful on a final exam but ultimately in a class the first thing you must do is attend class. It is important you attend class so that you don’t miss out on anything important. The class time you spend listening to your instructor is one of the most essential ways of retaining information on the subject you’re going over.

I’m not saying you must attend every single class in a semester but try your hardest to. If for some reason you do miss class, the next step you would follow is to be sure to get anything you’ve missed from a classmate. I never have an issue when it comes to getting information off classmates because you’ll find that everyone needs a friend in a class one day.

The next thing you must do is take good notes. I use a variety of methods when I’m taking notes.

I color-code things and use different ways of pointing out information such as stars, bullets, and arrows. These different things are a useful way to indicate different types of information. It makes it easier to pick out key points when you’re studying for your final.

The next thing you do is keep up with your homework. In high school you typically get your homework the day before it is due so it is a lot easier to make sure you keep everything up to date. As a college student you receive a syllabus at the beginning of the semester that lists all assignments, tests, and readings for the class. I list all of these things in a planner and keep that planner with me at all times. You must keep up with everything on time because if you get behind you will fall further and further behind until you can’t catch up anymore. This could lead to doing poorly in your classes.

You must continue with these steps for months leading into the end of the semester. Then, once it gets close to the final exam there are many things you must do. There are things you have to specifically do the week before, the night before, and then the morning of. If you follow certain steps then you’re surely to do just fine. First, a week or so before your exam compile all your materials in one place. I use a small binder of folder just so it’s easily carried around for studying. I go back through old notebooks and folders and collect any article that contains information I will need for the exam, all homework, handouts, quizzes, and tests. Get your syllabus and make sure you have notes covering everything you’ve done in the semester. Final exams contain information from the entire class so it is very important you collect everything.

The next thing you must do is re-read all the information you have collected. As you read gather important points, make flashcards, study guides, and other study materials that could be of use to you. While making study guides it is often helpful to use different means of labeling things like arrows, stars, and color-coding things.

Afterward, you must spend a large amount of time studying your material using many different methods. Personally I use practice tests, highlight, and re-take notes. Using many ways allows you to make sure you know the material and are not just memorizing it in a certain order. Be sure to spend extra time on any material you feel will either be a large part of the test or anything you are still unsure about. There are many steps to follow the night of the exam as well.

First, get rid of all your distractions. Turn your phone on silent, log out of everything and put yourself in a non-distracting environment. The next step is to not spend too much time studying material you already know. Review and spend the majority of your time on things you are still unsure of. Your last step the night before your exam is simply, get some sleep. Your brain will be completely useless if you are exhausted so the smartest thing to do is to study early on, avoid the all-nighters, and get some rest. Finally, you must take your exam. Do not rush. Take your time on every question. If you do not know the answer to a question do not panic, simply breathe and give it your best effort. After you have answered everything go back over your exam and make sure you have at least attempted every question. Make sure to check your answers and if any seem wrong change them.

Then, turn your exam in and continue on your way. It is important to know how to study for and act the day of a final because every type of student goes through it. Whether you are in high school, college, or graduate school all scholars must be able to do well on these tests. Finals can determine how well you do in your classes and can ultimately determine parts of your future. You must receive good grades to be able to continue on an education path and obtain a good career. If you follow the steps I have provided for you then you are surely to do just fine.