Lions! We are almost at the finish line! We know that the final few weeks of assignments and exams can be overwhelming, but with the right preparation, you won’t have to pull any all-nighters this term! The #YUBlog is here to help you conquer final exams and assignments with this handy guide.
Get organized
Managing your notes, whether paper, digital or a combination of both can be difficult. If you haven’t already, be sure to sort all your notes, readings, handouts, etc. in a way that you find the best – chronologically, by topic/theme, etc. Materials like class notes, lecture slides, handouts, assignments are crucial when you’re preparing for an exam. We suggest going through your syllabus as you separate the materials by subject. This allows you to determine if you have missed anything important from class that will be covered in the exam.
Success Tip: This would also be a great time to schedule some Learning Skills Services workshops, like Exam Prep, Reading and Note-Taking, and Memory!
Create a study schedule
One of the main components to ensuring that you are prepared for final assignments and exams is to manage your time wisely. Creating a schedule allows you to stay committed and keep track of what you’ve studied (or haven’t studied yet) and how far along you are with your assignment deadlines.
Success tip: Having trouble staying motivated? Here are Five Tips for Staying Motivated and Productive. Looking for apps that can help you stay focused? Look no further! Here are Five Productivity Apps to Stay on Track.
Start early and study smart
If you have assignments and exams due in the same week, start early. By giving yourself extra time, you’ll have more time to absorb the content and you’ll give yourself extra leeway if you fall behind in your schedule.
Also, each of your courses will have different learning objectives and formats. For example, you wouldn’t study Math the same way that you’d study English. Tailoring your learning strategies and assignment outlines to the style of your course, can help you grasp concepts better.
Multiple choice vs. essay responses
It is a good strategy is to concentrate on building your understanding of concepts to identify key information for multiple choice exams.
On the other hand, completing practice questions and re-reading the course texts to ensure you have structured answers and thorough knowledge of the material will best prepare you for essay-based exams.
Group projects and study groups
Group projects are an essential part of University learning and key for developing skills that you’ll use in your career. An easy way to make sure that everyone delivers on time, is to create a group schedule with clear deadlines. These deadlines will help you stay on track as your workloads get heavier with other assignments or exams.
If you need motivation to study, use Zoom to connect with your friends or study group members and study together.
Success tip: If you have trouble concentrating for long hours, try the Pomodoro method over a group Zoom call. Study for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break to chat with your friends.
York’s Top Resources
York offers a variety of learning resources that will help you study. To know more about the resources available for remote learning, check out our Remote Learning 101 Series!
In keeping with the times, the Writing Centre has moved its services online too! Check out their virtual workshop calendar to book the ones that suit your needs.
Take a break and get some rest
Don’t forget to give yourself some time to recharge between study sessions with short breaks. This is the perfect opportunity to eat a healthy snack, go for a walk (if it’s not too cold!) or spend time with friends or family.
Pulling all-nighters is not the right way to cram for exams or complete your assignments. Your body and mind need rest and sleep. Getting six to eight hours of sleep will help you be more focused and productive when studying.
Success tip: Check out York’s virtual events calendar to find events that interest you or that will help you destress. If you don’t know where to start, check out the latest edition of This Week @ York!
Ask for help
You’re not running this race alone! If you need help understanding your course material, reach out to your peers and instructors. If you need to speak to a professional, you can access York’s resources on mental health and wellness.
There’s no doubt that the end of any term is a stressful time! It’s natural to feel tense or nervous, but it’s important to not let these feelings overwhelm you and affect your studying abilities. You’ve worked hard to get to where you are now, and finishing exams and assignments is simply a new challenge to overcome.
Be confident in your abilities—you’ve got this!
Good luck on your final assignments and exams, Lions. I’m off to study!
What are your study strategies for final exams? Comment below or tweet us on Twitter at @YorkUStudents.
To stay up to date on campus life and events, connect with York on social media. You can follow us on Facebook @YorkUStudents, Twitter @YorkUStudents, Instagram @studentlifeyu and with our weekly This Week @ York emails.
Note: This is an update of the original post titled “The Lion Pride Study Guide for Finals” by Shannon Hui and “Lions Pride Study & Assignment Guide”.
Deea Deb
Deea Deb is a third-year English and Professional Writing major at York University. She loves reading, travelling, being organized, and writing. She hopes to help York students succeed at university.
