School during the month of December is commonly associated with finals. Finals can cause a lot of stress for students. According to The Butler, about 31% of students say that finals are the biggest reason for why they have stress at school. It is important to try to reduce this as much as you can because stress can essentially cause you to perform worse on your finals. Though every student is different, there are some general guidelines you can follow while studying to make your test scores and preparation as efficient as possible.

1.)  Make a Plan

Making a plan of when and how you are going to study can make things less stressful. Breaking down what you have to study adds simplicity which will make you more organized and less overwhelmed. Make an agenda or list of the days you will study and the amount of time you will spend studying each topic. Figure out which days are best for you. Set reminders and time limits if it helps you maintain your plan. By making a plan, you are setting yourself up for success if you simply follow the agenda you create for yourself.

2.) Start Early

Procrastination can easily become a problem with studying. Students who procrastinate tend to do worse on exams than students who begin studying early. Studying early will also reduce a lot of stress. It can be hard to find motivation in doing something you don’t want to do, which is why you need to look at the long terms effects of studying early. It will give you a lot more time to ask questions and focus on what you don’t fully understand. You will feel a lot of relief by starting early because you will be prepared. Instead of taking an exam feeling worried because of being unprepared, you will feel ready and confident knowing you studied as much as you could.

3.) Figure Out What is Most Important

Have a strong idea of which classes you find more difficult and have more confusion for. It is a good idea to study for those classes more than trying to spend the same amount of time studying for every class. For both the classes you find difficult and the classes you find less challenging, you should study, practice, and ask questions until you feel fully prepared. The difference is the amount of time it will take to study for different things. Allow yourself more time and practice to study for what you have confusion about.

4.) Find Your Study Style

Everybody is unique and learns in different ways so it only makes sense to study in a way that is unique to you. Examples of learning styles are visual, musical, logical, verbal, and physical. If you are unsure about what your learning style is, you can find multiple surveys online that will help you or you can ask a teacher that you feel may have a good idea. Once you know your style of learning, incorporate it in what you need to study. If you are a verbal learner, try repeating or writing things multiple times so you can remember them better. If you are a musical learner, make a song you can sing in your head that will allow you to memorize information. Visual learners may want to draw pictures or diagrams to help them understand a concept. These are just a few examples of how you can make studying easier by making it unique to you.

5.) Make a Study Group

Finding a group of people to study with can allow you to learn more by exchanging knowledge with others and being able to ask more questions. You can make studying more enjoyable by surrounding yourself with people that you have fun with and feel comfortable around. A study group can be especially beneficial to someone who learns best by talking about their ideas with others and thinking out loud.

The biggest way to study efficiently is by making a plan and following through with your plan. There are 3 days that include taking final exams. This can sound hectic but if you do your best at studying it should work out. By giving yourself as much preparation as possible and giving it your best, finals should not be as difficult as they are known to be.