Winter is here, the semester is drawing to a close, you’ve endured the tedious and most grueling semester that is almost behind you, and it’s almost time to go home. But not before the most anticipated part of the year comes. No it’s not probate, it’s finals. That’s right, Panthers, the dreaded days are swiftly approaching and will be here in a matter of seconds. Most students have spent the entire semester planning for this and are waiting for the results. However, some students failed to plan, and swear that it’s almost time for midterms. While the past semester has served as a plateau to prepare us for these final exams, the pressure and stress of passing these course aptitude tests can get to students. Here are a few easy strategies to help you alleviate your stress and prepare for your end of semester exams.
*Rule 1: Arrive early instead of barely on time, so as to be organized and ready instead of in a panic. Try to go into the test alert and calm instead of tense and anxious.
*Rule 2: Regard a lapse of memory as perfectly normal; do not let it throw you into a panic. If you block on answering one question, leave it for a while and return to it later.
*Rule 3: Make certain that you fully understand the test directions before attempting to solve any problems or answer any questions.
*Rule 4: Plan how you will use your time during the exam. Quickly look over the entire test and divide up your available time as appropriate to the number and type of questions that you find. Then be careful not to mismanage your time so that you find yourself with insufficient time to answer all the questions.
*Rule 5: Read each question carefully and completely before marking or writing your answer. Re-read if you are at all confused.
*Rule 6: Ask your instructor for help in interpreting test questions that are unclear or ambiguous to you. He will probably want to clear up the misunderstanding for everybody if the question really is misleading or confusing.
*Rule 7: Be careful not to give any impression of cheating.
*Rule 8: Do not be disturbed about other students finishing before you do. Take your time, don’t panic, and you will do much better on the test.
*Rule 9: If you have any time left over, edit, check, and proofread your answers. Use all the time available to eliminate careless errors and to improve your answers as much as possible.
Also to be more prepared for the exams ahead, you should utilize the free time that the university has given to students from Dec.1- 2 or Dead Days. Also feel free to use this time to relax not only your mind, but your body. Between study times you should try to nap for at least an hour. Napping between study times ensures that your brain has had the chance to settle down after a tedious session of studying, and can be presented with new or updated information. It’s a proven fact that resting before and after studying helps the brain to not only settle down, but better retain information for future processing. Junior Cerissa Edwards says,”I try to stop