Finals Jitters

Remember the last time finals rolled around? The mix of raw emotions that fluttered around your stomach, ranging from fear to ecstasy? Well, unfortunately or not, it’s coming in fast as the 2008 Fall Semester is coming to an end.

If some of you are like me, then testing may be a nightmare. For some reason, someone thought it was a good idea to have all the finals in a one to two week slot. It’s hard enough to get through one test some times, but when there are more to study for, the stress just begins to rise.

Luckily, there are some tips and strategies that I use to help make this time a lot less stressful.

Make a plan to study at least a week before the night of the test. You have a whole semester, that’s FOUR months, of information you need to reinforce. Cramming may work for some, but not for all.Form a study group. Study groups are different than individual study in that you can help each other with concepts or see something in a completely different way.Get a good night’s sleep before the day of the test.Eat a good breakfast (or other meal) before the test. Eating breakfast increases a person’s attention span and allows them to be more alert.Know where your test is going to take place.Come prepared for your test. That means pencils (more then one), pens, erasers, scratch paper, extra lead, and any thing that your professor said you need.If you get nervous before or during the test, stop for a moment and take a couple of deep breaths.And most importantly, keep a positive attitude. Telling yourself that you can get through the test can help motivate you. If you do the opposite, then you won’t feel as motivated to do well.

These tips do not guarentee an “A” on the exam, but they may be able to help you beat the stress of finals.

*Breakfast information from http://www.thedietchannel.com/importance-of-breakfast and http://www.beyondthebend.com/health/breakfast.htm