Finals are coming! Time to start prepping!

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:50:44 -0500

[Repost from ASC myUMBC Group]

Hi Retrievers! It's that time of year again! We are in the final stretch of the semester before final exams and projects begin! Here are some ways to get ready.

Get tutoring now before it’s too late.

Classes end on Tuesday, December 8th, which means that tutoring ends on Tuesday, December 8th! Now is the time to get in one or two more tutoring sessions to clarify concepts before finals start. Link in bio to make an appointment or drop in.

Find out when and how your exams will happen.

We all know that exams are online this year, but what does that mean? Will you have a synchronous exam where you must access it at a certain time? Will you have an asynchronous exam that’s more like a take home? Will they be open note or closed book? Do you have to do it all in one sitting? Can you take breaks? Make sure you know what to do for each exam before classes end.

Start preparing your final projects.

Finals week isn’t just about final exams! Make sure to look through all of your syllabi to see if you have any final projects or papers. Think about what you need to do to make each thing happen. Do you know where to start with your final paper or do you need an appointment with the Writing Center? Do you feel good about your coding or do you need to drop into the Computing Success Center? Get your questions handled now so that you can start working on those assignments.

Build a finals week study schedule.

You may already have a study schedule, but because you won’t have classes during finals week, you should definitely tweak it to make the most out of your studying. This includes finding out when your finals are, making time to study for each exam every day, and getting on a good sleep schedule so you don’t miss your exam.

Create a good study space.

Studying at home may not be ideal, but try to create the best study space you can. Make sure you have everything you need with you (computer, pens, pencils, books) so you don't have to get up and get anything. If your environment is too noisy, try listening to headphones when you study. If your phone distracts you, try putting your phone on silent or even using a Pomodoro app to lock it down. Removing distractions will allow you to focus on reviewing the material and doing your best on the final.

Make a SMART to do list.

A to do list is useful because it helps you stay on track and finish the things you need to complete. Your to do’s should be SPECIFIC items that you can MEASURE, have goals that can be ACCOMPLISHED, are RELEVANT to getting through finals, and allows you to complete your goals in a TIMELY manner