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I’m not going to pretend that finals season is my favourite time of year; it’s just something that we all have to get through (and it’s a good feeling when finals are finally over). But just because I don’t love it doesn’t mean I don’t want it to go as smoothly as possible, which means proactively planning and coming up with a strategy to take care of myself and do the studying I need to do.
Luckily, the U of A has a lot of experts who’ve helped students get through an exam season or two, and I was able to collect a few ideas about what can help from Dr. Mebbie Bell, Student Equity and Accessibility Director at the Academic Success Centre.
Take care of yourself
"When stress hormones are coursing through our bodies, and often made worse by lack of sleep, they can impact higher-order learning and the ability to make decisions, which are both critical leading up to and taking an exam," says Bell.
It’s the advice we hear time and time again because, honestly, it works. Eat healthy food, get enough sleep and make sure you’re well-hydrated. Need some help? Access health and wellness resources at the U of A.
Figure out what you have to do
How many exams do you have coming up? Any final papers due? Knowing what’s coming up will help you plan, and you can put it in a calendar to keep track of it all. Don’t forget to also think about the rest of your life; if you have work, scheduled events (the holidays can be a busy time for some) or other commitments, include these in your planning, too.
Make a plan
Now that you know what you have to do, it’s a good idea to figure out how long it will take to get done and then plan to do it. For example, I might need 8 hours of studying for an exam, and I have a paper that will take me about 12 hours to research, write, edit and review. If this is going to be 20 hours and I like to use 2-hour increments, I’ll plan out time over the next few weeks in blocks to get this done.
I like filling out a calendar so I can see what’s coming up and having the time blocked in my day, but I know others who prefer just to make lists.
Bell notes that it's important to actually write down your plans on paper (or print your digital plans) in order to see your whole plan at a glance. Then, post your plan where you'll see it every day to help keep you on track and reduce your stress.
Check-in on yourself
How’s the studying going? Are your papers getting done? If the progress is going better than expected, great! But if it’s not going according to plan, maybe it’s time to recalibrate those plans. Sometimes, this might mean skipping out on an evening out to study or replacing a Netflix session with some research for an essay.
And very importantly, how are YOU doing? Remember that your health and well-being are the most important things and check up on them.
Need some help? Bell recommends reaching out to U of A health and wellness services or the Students' Union's Peer Support Centre. "This is a terrific service run by the Students' Union and one of the many services that students can access on the North Campus," says Bell.
Take some breaks
Though it may seem counter-intuitive to some, Bell recommends that you include two types of breaks in your study plans. First, incorporate short, frequent breaks into each study block; at least once every 30 minutes, move around, stretch or re-fill your water bottle. Then, get back to work. These "short, boring breaks," as Bell calls them, boost your focus and productivity. Second, take time for yourself to recharge and destress
I like to stay active and will often head to one of the physical fitness options at the Van Vliet complex, but you could check out what Campus & Community Recreation is offering, which includes physical movement, games, crafts and other fun opportunities to disconnect from finals and connect with others. Additional options include taking a walk around campus, checking out a U of A museum or gallery or maybe just catching up with a friend over a meal or coffee.
If things don’t go according to plan, recalibrate
Sometimes life gets in the way, and I know from my own experience that things come up, I get distracted, and everything doesn’t always go as planned (there might also be a bit of a procrastination habit). If I find myself in a place where I haven’t studied as much as I wanted, I have to recognize that it’s not optimal, but four hours of studying, while not as good as eight, is a lot better than zero hours of hitting the books. If you’re behind schedule or starting to feel overwhelmed, it’s not the end of the world, and it’s bound to happen to most people (you aren’t alone).
My advice in this situation: rebalance some plans, remind yourself that you’ll get through it and then try your best. There have been many times when I’ve found myself panicking, but recovering my strategy helped things turn out way better than I expected.
It's common to draw a blank during an exam. Simply move on to the next question. "Often continuing with other questions might help spark the answer or allow you to brainstorm calmly after you've answered all the questions you do know," said Bell. "Your goal should be to answer the questions you can to the best of your ability and strategically limit the impact of the questions you can't answer." And, breathe—taking a few slow, deep breaths calms your stress response and will help you make good decisions in the middle of an exam.
Get help if you need it
The Academic Success Centre at the U of A has you covered if you need some help from advisors for studying strategies, advice on writing or exam preparation. If you’re panicking about a particular assignment or have questions, visit your instructors' or TAs' office hours to talk through your questions and get back on track.
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