ISO e-Newsletter May 2008
PREPARING FOR FINALS
Finals will be here in a few weeks for most students. Some of you might have already
begun preparing, while others might now be starting. We know that your studies in
America are a big investment, and that you want to succeed, so here are some tips
that can assist with your preparations.
LEARNING STYLES
Like many other things, success in your final exams depends on maximizing your strengths
as you study. This means that you need to know the type of learner you are, and
then use learning strategies that correspond to your learning style. There are three
different learning styles:
- Visual – students who learn best when the information is presented visually: in
pictures, charts or diagrams. Visual learners tend to benefit from the learning
strategies found here.
- Auditory – students who learn best when the information is presented orally – via
lectures, recordings, reading aloud, etc… You can find learning strategies for auditory
learners here.
- Kinesthetic – students who learn best when they are involved in hands-on activities,
such as lab experiments, in-class demonstrations, and usually find the learning
strategies here most helpful.
For more in-depth information on these different learning styles, you may click
here. Take
a learning style test and get feedback which might assist you when studying. If
you are aware of your learning style you will be able to make the most out of your
learning time for the finals.
BEFORE THE FINAL
Here are some tips that will assist you before your final:
- Do not wait until the last minute to begin studying! Instead, begin your preparations
a few weeks before. You might find it helpful to make a study schedule, where you
allocate blocks of time over a few weeks, 2–3 hours each block. This way you divide
your study into manageable portions, and your brain is not over-worked.
- If you don't understand – ask! Request assistance from your classmates, professors
and friends who might have taken the same class with you or before. You will be
surprised how helpful it is to discuss concepts with others. You gain a better idea
of what the problem is, and in the process, you often reinforce other concepts that
you may need to know for your exam.
- Many students find that they learn a lot by self-testing. To do this, you go through
your notes, and then prepare a list of probable test questions. Then you "take the
test" under test conditions to see how well you can answer them. Don't forget to
go back to your notes and study the subjects you could not answer properly. Alternatively,
have your friend asking you the questions you prepared, and then discuss the answers
with your friend.
- Avoid “cramming” or intensive memorization before finals since this can over-work
your brain, and even increase your anxiety level. Instead, make sure you are getting
a good night sleep before the exam and eat a balanced meal. This is important! Your
body and brain will need the energy in order to focus and recall all the information
you learned.
DAY OF THE FINAL EXAM
- Make sure you are taking all required materials with you to the exam. Take a few
pens and pencils with you, as well as a calculator if necessary.
- Arrive at the exam room at least 10 minutes before start time. This will give you
some time to get settled and hear all the instructions your proessor is giving.
If you do not know where the exam room is, we advise that you visit it before the
exam, to ensure that you do not get lost on the day of your final.
- Stay relaxed and maintain your confidence level. If you have prepared well, then
there is nothing for you to be nervous about. Avoid talking about the test with
other students just before it begins. This will only increase your anxiety.
- Pay attention to the instructions given! You will waste all your hard work if you
prepare well but do not follow the instructions given, answer the wrong questions,
or fewer questions than required. At the same time, you might want to start making
notes on what your answer might be for these questions. This way you save time and
leave room for proofreading at the end.
- Finally, do not panic if you cannot answer a question. Move on to the next question.
It is important to plan ahead so you answer every question that you know the answer
to. You can then go back to the ones you are not sure about and think about your
answer again.
As you see, preparation is vital for success in your finals. We hope these tips
will assist you.
WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR FINALS!
SOURCES
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