4 tips to help prepare YOU for FINALS

As the end of the school year approaches, I’ve been getting many requests about “how to help my child study for finals?” Normally, I’m very opinionated and have a plan of action up my sleeve. However, this is a pretty delicate matter.

We know every kiddo is different. We know every kiddo has a different learning style. And we know every subject requires different methods of preparation for a final exam. But there are certain things that you can do to help you become ready for the final exam season.

Here are 4 tips to help YOU prepare for final exams:

First, get organized!

How much time do you have until your final exam? How much do you need to study for your final exam? Are you reviewing the material from the beginning of the year, or from the start of the second semester?

Once you have an answer to all of these questions, start by allotting study time on your calendar. Give yourself reasonable time to study each unit or chapter.

Second, be prepared!

Gather all of the necessary materials that you need to study for each subject. Place them in one area and leave them there, so you’re not constantly looking for notes, textbooks, etc. If you’re using digital notes/textbooks, bookmark the sites and put things into a folder on your desktop so you have everything handy. The less time you spend looking for your materials, the more time you have to study.

Third, ANSWER KEYS!

I’m a HUGE supporter of practicing problems when you can easily see the answers once you’re done with the problems. I love practicing problems, but if you think that 3 to the 4th power is 12 and you keep doing that math on the practice page, then you’ve just spent however long practicing the wrong math. That’s not helpful. I would recommend using a program such as IXL or Khan Academy that allows you to see the answer once you’ve hit the submit button. Better to learn from your mistakes than to make them over and over again.

Fourth, study groups!

Be Proactive and either create a study group with classmates to review the limbic system or the Punic Wars; or join a group that already exists. In the two months leading up to finals after Spring Break, most tutoring centers begin review for finals. Find a time and group that fits your schedules and one as soon as possible.

While there are many combinations that can work to help you feel successful, you have to remember to try them in the coming weeks before your finals start. And if you need help creating a plan do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are happy to help in any way we can.