The academic year is coming to an end, and whether this be your first, second, third, fourth, or fifth stroll, you should be extremely proud of yourself!
But we are not done just yet; there is still that final push known as finals. We cannot give up now, and in order to go into summer confidently and with the minimum number of retakes possible, we need to approach finals in a particular way.
Be confident and optimistic
All those late nights and efforts must translate into your finals too. You would not have made it this far had you not put in the efforts you did, and you should be extremely proud of yourself for this! If you need further motivation, check these tips out. They may seem obvious, but it is always important you remind yourself to do them.
Start early
I know this is something none of us want to hear, but yes, the early bird gets the worm. Classes end May 27th for first and second years, and May 6th for third, fourth, and fifth years. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to prepare final deliveries and exams. So…
Make a plan
There are so many ways to do this. On a calendar, in a planner, on a sheet of paper, on a whiteboard… whatever works for you! The important thing is to have a holistic visual representation of everything you have due before the end of term.
I personally use the Reminders app on my iPhone. Via my iCloud, all my devices are synced and hence any time I add something or edit my reminders, they appear on all my devices and I always feel organised.
Go through your syllabi, write in all the dates for exams, essays, projects… also fill in study dates, group meetings, and start cracking with a killer study plan! If you know how to fill in the important dates but not plan the actual studying parts, which I know can be hard, check out this document.
Eat, sleep, and exercise well
It is important to take breaks whilst you’re studying. Your mind and body are in a period where they’re constantly churning and retaining so many different topics. So whether this means a leisurely walk in the park with a friend or going out for a coffee before a night of intense studying, take that break.
On the same topic, make sure you maintain a good diet (please, do not skip breakfast) and get at least seven hours of sleep every night. I myself know there will be many end of term parties, but think of all the fun you will have this summer too! You do not want to feel burned out after your last exam because you did not care of yourself, and feel exhausted your first week into summer break.
We are almost done, this is literally the final push. I hope you can use these tips to help you healthily conquer your finals! Best of luck, I know you are all capable of succeeding and coming out with top GPAs!
All pictures courtesy of Dribble.
