Surviving Finals Week

1
Surviving Finals Week

• Dealing with stress
• Selective cramming
• Scheduling for exams
• Rehearsing the information

2
Sample Exam Questions Anywhere University

• Sociology Estimate the sociological problems
  that might accompany the end of the world.
  Construct an experiment to test your theory.

• Medicine You have been provided with a razor
  blade, a piece of gauze and a bottle of Scotch.
  Remove your appendix. Do not suture your work
  until it has been inspected. You have 15 minutes

3
Dealing With Tension

• Organize yourself
• Take time to relax
• Adopt a positive approach
• Anxiety is contagious
• Plan rewards

4
Make A Game Plan

• When is the exam?
• How much material does the exam cover?
• What is my grade now? What is my goal?
• What types of errors did I make on past exams?
• What strategies were successful?
• What new strategies will I need to overcome past
  difficulties?

5
Schedule Your Study Periods

• Begin at least a week before finals week
• Allow large blocks of time for studying
• Allow short periods for review
• Vary what you study and how you study
• Schedule breaks and exercise
• Stay with your routine

6
Cram Selectively

• Gather all materials -Divide and conquer
• Make courageous choices
• Choose the most important elements
• Most recent material lecture notes textbook
  themes that cut across all materials areas
  where youre weakest
• Know what it is you dont know spend more of
  your time here.

7
Use Review Cards Other Study Aids

• Flash cards- portable, easy to test and mix ideas
• Mind maps shows relationships
• Summary Sheets more detail include most
  important and most difficult concepts
• Essay Questions
• Old Exams greater challenge
• Commercial Study Guides saves time

8
Use the 25/75 Rule

• Spend 25 of your time organizing information
• Spend 75 of your time testing, recalling,
  reciting, writing, etc.
• (Remember, its better to find out what you dont
  know now than in the exam room.)

9
The Night Before

• Calmly review what youve learned
• Focus on integrating and synthesizing
• Continue self-testing by using small pieces of
  time
• Avoid staying up all night
• Avoid cramming new material
• Dont go to the movies

10
Take Care of Yourself

• Moderate stimulants
• Use campus resources, as needed
• Maintain regular eating and sleeping patterns

11
Check out these resources

• Academic Success Center in BRNG, Room 3268, 830
  AM 430 PM Monday through Friday
• 494-5569 http//www.sla.purdue.edu/asc
• Psychological Services 494-6995

• Kathleen Kroll Thayer
• Director,
• Academic Success Center
• Purdue University