Tips & Resources for Students During Finals Week

December 3, 2020

As the 2020 fall semester comes to a close to several of our member institutions, we would like to wish students luck on their final exams. We recognize that this semester has been challenging for most students as the coronavirus pandemic has continued to change our sense of normalcy, so here are a few tips that will help you finish the semester successfully.

Get Organized: Fall semester finals can bring about a lot of responsibilities, especially with the busyness of the holiday season. It can be easy to unintentionally mix up deadlines or get distracted. To keep all of your assignments organized, try creating a calendar or checklist of everything due in the next couple of weeks. Knowing which tasks are due will help you prioritize which ones you should focus on first as well as avoid any missing assignments.

Take Breaks & Relax: Finals week is a stressful time, don’t forget to take time for yourself! While organizing your study schedule, be sure to set aside time for you to do activities that will help you de-stress. Sometimes taking a step back from your studies will make it easier to focus later. Relaxing activities can include doing yoga, going on a walk, listening to music, or whatever brings you joy!

Remove Distractions: Although it is important to take study breaks, it is equally important to take breaks from distractions while you study. The more engaged you are with your assignments, the easier it is to work on them efficiently. Being efficient and focused, will bring about more time to do the things you enjoy after you finish your work. If you tend to get distracted from your phone, try turning it off for an hour so that you have a full hour to concentrate. Since a lot of students are living at home this semester, you may be sharing your study space with your family. To avoid getting distracted from your household, try listening to relaxing music while you work.

Sleep: When you’re balancing a lot of projects, exams, presentations, etc. it can be easy to sacrifice your sleep schedule and pull all-nighters to finish your work. However, sleep (or lack thereof) can have a huge effect on your performance. Remember to have a full 7-8 hours of sleep every night during finals week. For better sleep try avoiding screens a full hour before you go to bed.

Take Advantage of the Resources Your University Offers: Most colleges and professors offer different resources to support you during this time. From group study sessions, free activities on-campus, and tutoring your school wants you to succeed! Check with your advisor or professor to see what they have to offer.

We wish you the best of luck on your finals!

Additional Resources:

https://blog.tesu.edu/3-handy-tips-from-the-pros-for-taking-an-online-midterm-of-final-exam

https://www.petersons.com/blog/7-tips-for-surviving-finals-week-straight-from-the-pros/

http://learnmore.uncg.edu/blog/bid/157637/Success-Tips-for-Taking-Online-Exams

https://study.com/resources/stress-in-college