My school is really tough and we have end of semester finals in all my classes. It’s totally stressing me out and I don’t know what to do. I have to study every night for these finals and the teachers pile on so much homework each night that it’s really difficult. They think we have no life outside of school. I’m hopeless and about ready to lose it. Do you have any suggestions on how I can prepare for these finals and help relieve my stress?’

-Rasberry‘

Hey babe, I totally know what you mean. Exams can be so stressful, and the key to doing well is staying cool, calm and collected. Sound impossible? It’s not.

First, don’t let your work pile up. This leads to cramming at the last minute, which is a very ineffective way to study. There’s no way to memorize more than a month’s worth of notes in a single night, so why put yourself through it? Every few days, or at the end of every week, go through all of the material you’ve learned during that time period. Make flash cards, review sheets, whatever you need to help you drill the info into your brain. Each week, add the new stuff to the old. That way, you’ll be repeating everything you learned from the beginning often enough to remember it and you’ll be on top of all the new info at the same time.

Even if you don’t have any tests coming up, it’s still a good idea to review your notes and do some practice quizzes (most textbooks include one per chapter). That way, you’ll be prepared for when the exam does pop up.

Time management is also crucial during test prep time. Organize your workload. Do homework during study hall or right after school, that way you won’t have time to procrastinate. Then, give yourself a little break before beginning to study. Another important element of studying? Sleep! Seriously, without a good night’s rest, you’ll never perform well on a test. Don’t stay up all night studying. If you’re tired, go to bed. When your body is that exhausted, you aren’t learning as well as you could be and your mind isn’t as receptive to new information. Start your reviewing earlier in the day, you’ll be able to get to bed at a decent hour.

Good luck!
Alli