Finals are coming up fast, and it’s in your best interest to be prepared for them. Upperclassmen have gone through the process before, but it still helps to be prepared. For the freshmen, this will be a brand new experience.
Each semester the finals you take count for 20 percent of your grade, so you need to do your best to be prepared. The mistake that many people make is thinking that they don’t need to study, or that it’s just another test. In reality you should start preparing for your finals as soon as possible because it’s not just another test; it’s the second most important one you take in high school, right behind the ACT in your junior year.
The best way to prepare is to study, study, and study. Start studying for your finals as soon as possible. You want to have the entire semester fresh and practiced before you test for it. Freshmen, I know you have heard this before when you took ISAT’s, but it’s a great idea to get plenty of sleep before you take your final. The week before finals, you should try to start going to bed a half hour earlier than you normally do or even earlier. The steady sleep cycle will help your mind to reset its “internal clock.” Getting plenty of sleep isn’t only a good idea before finals, but a good idea in general. The more sleep you get in a night, the less your body has to compensate.
Another great idea to start thinking about before the finals is to eat healthily for all your meals. A good breakfast helps you to feel full and not have your stomach constantly bugging you saying “feed me!” However, while breakfast is vital, eating a healthy lunch and dinner is helpful too. Healthier foods such as fresh fruit, veggies, whole grains, and lean meat will not only keep you healthy, but also have much better effects than sugar and caffeine do on your psyche.
Finally, use your exemptions carefully. Lots of people use their exemptions on classes that they struggle in; personally, I think that this is a bad idea because if you struggle with a class, you should push yourself harder to improve rather than just do away with it. You should study as much for that final as you possibly can, and you might just ace it.
Finals are a stressful thing, but with studying, a good diet, and getting plenty of sleep, you are guaranteed to achieve success.