Final Exam Tips
by Scott Murray, class of 2011

The semester has been going by so fast. At this point in the year, most of you have already had several graded assignments and have finals coming up. Depending on the weight of your specific final, they can either make or break your grade.

As the pressure sets in, it is a good time to really reevaluate your study habits and make sure you are prepared. Some of you have had to deal with college finals before or it may be your very first time taking them. I personally have taken many college finals and wish to share my own personal tips with you that I feel will benefit to your success.

1. Do not stress! A final is very important to your grades. However, with proper studying habits, there should be no reason your mind should be hindered by unnecessary pressure. There are tons of things going on around campus including Campus Recreation Programs and C.A.B. events that will definitely help relieve stress for you to take part in, so be on the lookout.

2. Take breaks while studying. With three to four weeks before your first exam, you have plenty of time to study. There is no need to cram and stress out. Take fifteen minute breaks for every forty-five minutes of studying. This will allow you to not become overwhelmed with all the information and give yourself time to get a snack.

3. Use your learning resources. There are many resources available on campus including the Center for Student Learning (CSL) , Supplemental Instruction (S.I.) for your science classes, and your teacher’s specific office hours. Each allows you to ask questions about confusing information and can help you get to that critical thinking standpoint that will be required on the final.

4. Study in groups. It is very helpful to study in groups and to teach each other parts of the information you may be unclear on. Being able to relay the information to someone else is the best way of learning something yourself. Do not be afraid if you cannot find a quiet space to study in a group. The library has many study rooms on the second and third floors, which you can reserve up to two weeks in advance! You will need to check out a study room at the front desk of the library and will need 4 people total to do so.

5. Complete the study guides if given one. Not all classes will have a study guide given to you by the teacher, but if one is given, it is really important to complete it because a lot of that information will be on the test, however, do not rely solely on the study guide as there may be other information that’s fair game. If there is no study guide, why not make one yourself? In trying to create one, you will both review the material and organize your notes so that you can see specific areas of where you are having trouble understanding the information.

6. Find out how your teacher tests! Look back at your old tests and see what kinds of questions are being asked. Plus a lot of what was on previous tests may be on your final. If you ask your teacher, he or she even may say the format in class of what the final will be like. Also, look up the SCIP survey information under the courses section of Cougartrail. These surveys have been completed by students who have taken the class and the teacher before and may give evidence to how the teacher will test on the final.

In about a month’s time, finals will be starting. Do not wait until the last minute to study. Use the exam preparation tips to help earn the higher grade you desire. The college has so many resources that can benefit study skills. Be sure to use them all and success will be yours.

Exam Stress Less
by Crystal MacLean, class of 2011

There’s a point each semester when a quiet buzz can be heard across the campus. All of the College of Charleston students are saying the same thing: “Why did all of my professors suddenly decide to assign a million things all at once?” That’s the first indication that exams are just around the corner. In the fall semester, this normally occurs mid-November. Professors and students alike realize that, after the Thanksgiving Break, the semester is virtually over and there’s still a lot to be done.

So how do College of Charleston students manage to get it all done during those busy times? They have a plan.
Are you new to the campus and don’t know about the plan? Have you been at the college for awhile and still haven’t quite mastered the plan yet? Not to worry, the plan is about to be explained to you with some helpful tips along the way.

The plan is an organized way of figuring out how to get things done and prepare for your exams with the hope that, by having a plan, you’ll stress less at the end of the semester. Follow these simple steps to making a plan and makes changes to suit your individual life.

Step One: Go Online
What’s the first thing you need to know before you take an exam? I’ve always found that it’s immensely helpful to know when the exam is. A friend of mine realized this the hard way when he showed up forty-five minutes late to his final. Right now, go here: http://registrar.cofc.edu/ExamScheduleFall2009.pdf and find out when your exams are taking place.

Step Two: Make a List
Make a list of all the major assignments you have between now and the end of the semester. This includes group projects, solo projects, papers, tests, presentations, and anything else you feel will take a large portion of your time. If you have large events that you are committed to outside of class, include these in your list.

Step Three: Make a Commitment
Grab a calendar. If you have a planner, use that; otherwise, go online and find a monthly calendar that you can print out. Fill in your calendar with the due dates so that you can visually see when things are going on and realize which days are going to be busy. Include when you plan to work on and complete each assignment. As you do this, make a commitment to yourself that you will stick with your plan.

Step Four: Pencil It In
Who said college was all work and no play? Grab a pencil and scribble in some fun time. If you need to, use fun activities as an incentive to stick with your commitment you made in step three. If you are working on a project and feel yourself getting burnt out, take a short break and come back to it.

These are all things that you have probably heard a million times before, but have you ever actually tried it? Once a semester, I sit down with all of my dates and plans in front of me and I fill out my planner for exam time. In fact, I’ve already done it this semester. It really does help. And, one last hint: In planning for exams, always, always, always remember your on-campus resources! (Professors’ office hours, the Center for Student Learning, some textbooks have online material and peers)