Final Exam Preparation

1. Presented by: Eric B. Miller Academic Advisor Final Exam Preparation

2. Do you feel like this when you start thinking about preparing for final exams?

3. After today you will know… • Your learning & studying preferences • What your study schedule is for final exams • Helpful Tips to Achieve Successful Studying • Organize • Spend Time Wisely • Strategize to Overcome Problems • Tips for Taking a Final Exam

4. Before you can begin preparing, you need to understand how you learn best… What is your learning preference?

5. Study Tips for Specific Learning Styles • Visual Learners: • Create an Outline. Use colors when taking notes. Draw on your notes to bring attention to key concepts. • Use graphs, charts & drawings while studying to help you relate the material. • Flash cards are helpful while studying, useful in self-testing • Pre-test are also helpful for visual learners. • Minimize any distractions

6. Study Tips for Specific Learning Styles • Auditory Learners: • Use audio cues to learn information (e.g. creating rhymes or songs). • Use audio recordings of lectures/notes to retain information. • Read out loud as you study. • Study with a partner and take turns teaching each other the material.

7. Study Tips for Specific Learning Styles • Tactile/Experiential Learners: • Use projects and experiments to learn information. • Use formulas if possible. • Create models & graphs to retain information. • Keep a stress ball handy

8. Organize – So you know where to start! • When will you have time to study? • 168 hours in a week • Block out committed times Work/School/Other required commitments • Block out sleep, eating, and personal readiness • Look at times left and other needs

9. Organize – Study Plan • For each class identify difficulty and final exam preparation needs • Cumulative Exam? • Percentage towards final grade? • What materials should I study? • Use syllabus and notes to determine topics to study • How much emphasis was put on each topic area or chapter? • Rate your level of knowledge • (1=none to 10=completely comprehend) • Based on all of the above, designate blocks of time you study for each course. • Be sure to keep in mind how much time you have until your first exam and in between each exam • Use your “Exam Planner” to help organize!

10. Spend Time Wisely!! • Plan for adequate sleep, exercise, and meals • The remaining class and study times are precious – miss only for extreme reasons!! • Watch your energy and anxiety levels • A little anxiety is a good thing—what if you have too much anxiety?

11. Study Skills Help & Study Tips • Find a comfortable and quiet place to study • Bring EVERYTHING you need with you. • HIGHLIGHT definitions • Take notes and write down a summary of important ideas as you read through material. Test yourself as you go along. • TAKE SHORT BREAKS PERIODICALLY • DON’T just read through and try to memorize material, make sure you understand the material well and can apply it. • If you choose to study in a group, only study with others who are SERIOUS!

12. Strategize to Overcome Problems • Pay attention to your attention • Agree with Roommates about study time • Turn off the phone/TV/Candycrush • Learn to say “no” • Hang out a “do not disturb” sign • Avoid noise distractions • Are you letting others misuse your time?

13. Strategize to Overcome Problems • When you get stuck… • What is one task I can accomplish? • Am I being too hard on myself? • Does this need to be perfect? • Can I do just one more thing? • What is the best use of my time right now? • Can I delegate this? • How did I just waste time? (cleaning bathroom) • Am I using all the resources available to me? • http://library.mtsu.edu/finalstoolkit

14. Strategize to Overcome Problems • Avoid Procrastination… • Make your plans a part of public record • Study with others • Step back and check your progress from time to time • Verbalize your excuses • Visualize success or completion • Find a reward

15. Test Taking Strategies/Tips: • PREPARE: good preparation helps you focus on the task at hand. • Know where you’re going and arrive early for test. • Be comfortable. • Stay relaxed and confident. Trust in your preparation. • Don’t try to pull an all-nighter. Get as much sleep as possible before the test. • DURING TEST: • Read the directions carefully. • If there is time, look through test for overview. • Answer questions in a strategic order: easy questions first • Clear your mind - write down key ideas • REVIEW: • Resist the urge to leave as soon as you complete all items. Be the last to leave. • Review to ensure you answered all questions and did not make simple mistakes.

16. Test Taking Tips – Multiple Choice • Read questions before you look at answers. Come up with the answer in your head before looking at possible answers. • Read all choices before choosing your answer. • Eliminate answers you know are not right. • Don’t keep changing your answer, usually your first choice is right, unless you misread the question.

17. Test Taking Tips – Math Test • Read the directions carefully and don’t forget to answer all parts of the question. • Make estimates for your answers: • e.g., before using your calculator, estimate the answer (5x500=2500) just in case a mistake or error occurs when using your calculator. • Show all your work; write legibly • Even if you know the final answer is wrong, don’t erase your entire work because you may get partial credit for using the correct procedure.

18. Test Taking Tips – Open Book Test • Spend an equal or greater amount of time preparing as you would for a normal test. • Familiarize yourself with the book and relevant materials. • If allowed, write down all the important formulas and key information on a separate sheet so you don’t have to search through your book for it. • Highlight important points, use post-it notes, bookmarks, etc. • Use quotations from the book to support your view, but don’t over quote.

19. Test Taking Tips – Essay Test • Read the directions carefully. • Make sure you understand what the question is asking. • Budget your time. • Make an outline before writing your essay. • Focus on one main idea per paragraph. • If you aren’t sure about an exact date or number, use approximations i.e. “Approximately 5000” or “ In the late 17th century”

20. A word about Test Anxiety Test Anxiety is a feeling of agitation and distress. It can occur while thinking about an test or during a test. It can result in difficult concentrating, mental blocks and distractibility. The best defense against Test Anxiety is: Be well prepared for test Think positively Get a good night’s sleep Arrive in plenty of time; dress comfortable Calm yourself during test by taking deep breaths, stretching, and positive internal self-talk

21. Today I hope you learned… • A little about your Learning and Studying Style • How to plan for your final exams • Strategies to manage your time effectively • Ideas about overcoming challenges • Some test taking tips • Ways to overcome test anxiety

22. QUESTIONS?? Eric B. Miller Academic Advisor ericb.miller@mtsu.edu (615) 898-2339 Please fill out the survey on this website to confirm your attendance and to give feedback on this session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GWSB665