As midterm season (or at least the first set of midterms) winds down, students are either jumping with joy ✨, breaking down with tears 💧or both. Regardless of how your midterms went, an impending doom is on the horizon: finals.
The turnaround from midterms to finals was always tricky! It is difficult to make peace with midterms while also mentally preparing for the finals grind. Chances are you’re probably also behind on your classes trying to survive midterms. During this time, reflection on your midterm season is key!
These are some tips that I used to set myself up for a better finals season 🎉
🌱 Rest and Recover
Midterm season is hard. It is a constant grind with the stress hormones coursing through your blood 24/7.
After working hard for your exams, please take a moment to rest and recover. Take a nap—something you might have felt guilty doing during exam season. Socialize with your friends. Spend time on your hobbies.
Do whatever it takes re-energize and refresh yourself. University is a marathon, not a sprint. Self-care is essential to avoiding burnout and achieving success.
💡 Reflect on Your Feedback
Once you have your exams back, reflect on the exam itself and your preparation.
Here are some questions to guide your reflection:
Is there a pattern within the exam? Was I better with a certain style of question?
Were the questions I got wrong due to content gaps or test-taking strategy (eg. misreading the question, lack of time to complete the question)
How was my mind while taking the test? Was I calm/stressed? Was I too fast/slow? Was I distracted? How did these factors influence my test-taking ability?
What went well during my preparation for the exam?
Did I procrastinate preparing for the exam? Should I have spent less time or more time preparing? Should I focus on content or practice next time?
Use these questions to gain an understanding of how you can prepare for finals with existing and new strategies.
📌 Create a Plan
Now that you have reflected, it is time to make a plan of attack for finals!
The reality is that most students fall behind on the content after the exam content cutoff while grinding for midterms. Unfortunately, this content tends to be high-yield during finals because it hasn’t been tested yet. Thus, make sure to create a plan with enough time dedicated to catching up on the new material and reviewing the old material.
Another point to consider is when you want to start studying for finals. Reflect on your exam prep for midterms and set an approximate date for when your prep will begin. This will give you a sense of control!
You can also begin thinking about how you will prepare for the next set of exams. Prioritize learning from your strengths and weaknesses during midterm season prep. Feel free to refer to my other blog posts on how I personally prep for exams!
These are my tips for you! Please remember, that growth is not always linear—be kind to yourself through this process. Good luck!
All my best,
N
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