As January comes to a close, final exams are right around the corner. In honor of final exam season, the GH Falcon curated a list of the best studying strategies. 

Avoid Procrastination

When it comes to academics and school work, procrastination is a common challenge for high school students. Many students are familiar with pulling all-nighters after putting off their work for days. However, as students settle down to study for final exams, they may realize that there is a lot of material to review and it’s imperative that students stay on track with their studying schedules and avoid procrastination. One good strategy is to use a planner and write out each task to be completed, creating a schedule to get them done. While the material may be vast, students can break up the course material into chunks and get each chunk done as soon as possible. The earlier you get your tasks done, the more free time you’ll have and the less time you’ll spend stressing. 

Find a good studying spot

When students think about beginning to study for exams, one of the hardest decisions they face is deciding where to study. While some students prefer to study in their room, others prefer the environment of a library or a café. When figuring out where to study, it’s important to consider your own strengths and weaknesses and the environment in which you are able to best succeed in. Wherever you choose to study, whether it be in your room or at a café or library, make sure that you are in a quiet place without distractions. A good study environment is conducive to success, and it’s never too late to experiment and determine what fits your study schedule best.

Get rid of distracting devices. 

There’s a good chance that even while reading this article, you may have glanced at your phone. In today’s digitally connected world, it’s difficult to pry yourself away from the realm of social media. However, being on a device/phone while studying is one of the most serious difficulties students face, especially during finals week. To combat this, put your phone in another room or turn it off completely before you begin studying, resisting the temptation to turn it back on and scroll through social media. By keeping your phone and other distracting devices away, you are giving your undivided attention towards the material you must cover, allowing utmost concentration and focus.

Try a mix of study methods.

As you progress through different classes throughout high school, you may have noticed that there is not one study technique that fits all classes–success in different subjects requires new and unique studying techniques. For one class, you might stick to the classics by creating flashcards. For another class, you can try something new and instead ask a friend or family member to quiz you out loud. Studying is subjective, and different methods work for different people. Final exams are a great way to discover the studying strategies that work for you–don’t be afraid to try new techniques!

Get rest and take breaks. 

Though studying and covering course material is very important, so is resting! To avoid study burnout, take breaks in between hours of studying, ensuring that you are eating a healthy snack or doing something else to energize and rejuvenate your brain. Taking mental breaks is extremely important in order to be able to study for longer periods of time, and relaxing is especially important during finals week when there are multiple exams to study for. Remember, you should ensure that you are always prioritizing your health and well-being first. 

Final exam week is a stressful experience for many students. Hopefully, reading this article has given you a well-deserved break from reviewing and taught you some good techniques to utilize within your studying!