Study Tips for Final Exams

Photo via St. John's University

Final exams are underway and while hopefully you’ve already been preparing for testing, there are still some last minute things that can be done to help your body(and mind) get the test preparation it needs:

SLEEP: One of the single most important things you can do to prepare for any test. Studies have shown that being well rested directly effects how much information you retain and how well you perform. Make sure you get several good night’s of sleep leading up to your exam.

Go somewhere else: Studying in your apartment or home can be distracting. Change up the location and head somewhere new to set up shop to get your last minute review in. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean the library, though St. John’s does offer such great amenities, but perhaps even your local coffee shop or bookstore.

Rewrite: Step away from the electronics! Studies have shown the the simple act of putting pen to paper can help you to retain information. Rewrite only the important information into smaller pieces, keeping only what’s necessary and eliminating any fluff. This will help to trim down your reading and review time.

Focus on the major points: Devote some time to reviewing the major concepts. Look at the syllabus, skim through notes for common topics, and develop a study guide to help you hammer home the basics. This will help you learn more about the connections between topics, as well as be able to answer more questions intelligently.

The graduate schools at St. John’s University in New York City offer more than 60 graduate degree and professional certificate programs in five acclaimed colleges, a School of Law, and institute dedicated solely to the growing field of biotechnology. Our highly competitive advanced degree programs will challenge you to become the very best you can possibly be!