{"id":1371,"date":"2020-04-27T15:54:21","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T19:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/?p=1371"},"modified":"2020-04-27T15:54:21","modified_gmt":"2020-04-27T19:54:21","slug":"preparing-for-your-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/2020\/04\/27\/preparing-for-your-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing For Your Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Spring 2020 has certainly been a semester to remember. Amidst all the upheaval and strains that confront the Orange community, finals week has snuck up on us. In this new online learning environment, it can be even more challenging to prepare for your final exams. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to set your mind at ease and totally ace those finals.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Create Your Own Study Guide<\/h2>\n<p>Are you forgetting what you learned back in February? February seems like a lifetime away. It\u2019s important to synthesize all the information you learned throughout your courses. A great way to tie all those loose ends together is creating your own study guide. Pull out all the notes, lectures and readings you have to create mind maps, chapter summaries and charts.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Attend Virtual Tutoring Sessions and Concept Reviews<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/class.syr.edu\/\">Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS)<\/a> offers free <a href=\"https:\/\/class.syr.edu\/academic-support\/group-tutoring\/\">online group tutoring<\/a> in thirty courses available to all students. These sessions are run by certified tutors who have all done extremely well in their respective courses. This is not only a great opportunity for you to interact with other students in your class and get those questions answered, but you can also hear a former student\u2019s story on how they succeeded on their final exams! Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/class.syr.edu\/\">class.syr.edu<\/a> to sign up for free tutoring today.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Reach Out to Professors and TAs<\/h2>\n<p>If you have a question about a certain concept or about exam format, the best thing you can do is email your TA or professor. You can even visit them during their virtual office hours. You\u2019ll get clarity on confusing topics, which will only boost your confidence come exam time. It shouldn\u2019t be difficult to get in touch with them; everyone is glued to their emails these days.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Revisit the Syllabus<\/h2>\n<p>This semester has been very tumultuous to say the least. It is easy for assignments, readings and notes to get lost in the shuffle. Pull out your syllabi and make sure you\u2019ve read all of the readings and completed assignments. If your syllabi were updated during this time, be sure to note those changes. Did you miss a class earlier in the semester? Be sure to go back and review the information taught that day.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Find a Comfortable Study and Test Space<\/h2>\n<p>Virtual learning has found many students in unusual circumstances in places they weren\u2019t expecting to take classes from. Adaptability is a trait that we have all mastered. Give yourself the best chance at success by setting up your new space free of distractions. Make yourself comfortable (but not too comfortable), set up your desk with all test-taking supplies, and consult with anyone else in your residence about your exam schedule. That way, the house can be kept quiet when your exam is going on.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Get a Game Plan<\/h2>\n<p>Preparation may seem daunting if you\u2019re confronted with multiple exams and assignments at once. Generate a schedule, set reminders on your phone, or just take ten minutes to organize your work. You\u2019ll feel less stressed after you\u2019ve done this, and you\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re not forgetting any important assignments.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Get Your Head in the Game<\/h2>\n<p>Like in any sporting event, mindset is key. When you step out on the (arena of your sport of choice), you\u2019ve got to be completely focused. The same is true when studying for your exams. Roll up those sleeves, put your phone away and get studying. Dedicate a set amount of time to a subject. Try to limit distractions and solely focus on your coursework. It\u2019s definitely difficult, but the work pays off.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Make Sure Your Tech is Working<\/h2>\n<p>Our reliance on technology has grown dramatically in this new online environment. Students are dealing with online exams using various platforms and programs. Lower your stress level by ensuring your technology is working properly before your exam begins. Is your WiFi connection strong and reliable? Does your computer have the updated software installed? Is your computer charged? Check all these things prior to the exam!<\/p>\n<h2>9. Do (Original) Practice Problems<\/h2>\n<p>As a STEM major myself, this is one of the most helpful strategies I have used. Nothing tests your abilities better than opening up your textbook and cranking out those problems. It\u2019s important that you test yourself with problems you haven\u2019t done before. You\u2019ll find out pretty quickly if you know the concepts and can correctly apply them. This strategy also indicates which areas you need to review more, which is great information to know! You\u2019ll head into the exam knowing you\u2019ve seen everything that can possibly be asked on the exam.<\/p>\n<h2>10. Keep That Confidence High<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re anxious or feeling negatively about your upcoming exams, don\u2019t make finals week a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you implement the strategies discussed on this list, you should feel pleased knowing you\u2019ve done everything possible to prep for your exams. Have confidence that you know all the information that could be asked, now it\u2019s just a matter of applying it! Let\u2019s get the job done! You\u2019ve got this!<\/p>\n<p>Written by Ava Breitbeck &#8217;22, College of Arts and Sciences, CLASS Physics Tutor<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1373\" src=\"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/Ava2-356x500.jpg\" alt=\"Ava smiles from her desk at home\" width=\"356\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/04\/Ava2-356x500.jpg 356w, https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/04\/Ava2-811x1140.jpg 811w, https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/04\/Ava2-768x1079.jpg 768w, https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/04\/Ava2-1093x1536.jpg 1093w, https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/04\/Ava2-1458x2048.jpg 1458w, https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2020\/04\/Ava2.jpg 1687w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 356px) 100vw, 356px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spring 2020 has certainly been a semester to remember. Amidst all the upheaval and strains that confront the Orange community, finals week has snuck up on us. In this new online learning environment, it can be even more challenging to prepare for your final exams. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":319,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[71,72],"class_list":["post-1371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-student-success","tag-center-for-learning-and-student-success","tag-class"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/319"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1371"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1374,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1371\/revisions\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}