With winter finals upon us, you as a student, want to make sure you end the semester strong before winter break. But how can you finish this semester without feeling overwhelmed and still get the grade you deserve? First, take a breather and just remember that grades don’t define who you are as a person. Remember that not all finals are huge exams, – they can also be a simple assignment or a fun project! Here are some personal tips of success that can help you crush those finals, whatever form they take!

If you didn’t do your best on a past assignment or quiz, you still may have the chance to retake it if your teacher allows you to do so. By doing this you can bring your grade up in the class and learn from any past mistakes you made. You’ll be aware of it the next time you encounter that struggle and have an idea on how to solve it. Next, you should review past assignments, projects, quizzes, tests, etc so you can recall information from the beginning of the year. This can also remind you what your strengths or weaknesses were during the course of the semester.  Take note of anything you struggled with and the reason why. This usually works when preparing for math finals, especially. If you still don’t understand a concept well, ask your teacher for help or watch review videos on YouTube.

Make sure to know ahead of time what your final will be and what it will look like. You can always ask your teachers or, at the very least, listen closely when they describe what’s coming, straight from the horse’s mouth. If it’s an exam, make sure to begin studying ahead of time so you recall all units and their main topics. There are all kinds of different study methods created for different subjects. Find one that works for you! Test yourself to make sure you know the information well. For subjects like math or chemistry, I’d do practice problems as a way of studying.

If your teachers provide you with a study guide or review sheet, use it to your advantage! It can help lead the direction of where you want your studying to go. Go in depth on any broad terms or concepts so you gain a better understanding of it.

Mind you teachers just want to know what you have taken away or learned from their classes through these finals. Remember to always keep an open mind. Good luck Tigers!