{"287811":{"#nid":"287811","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tips for Helping Your Student Prepare for Final Exams","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe end of the semester (and academic year) is both an exciting and stressful time. Students are looking forward to activities such as summer study-abroad trips, internships and vacations, but first they must complete final exams. Final exams can be especially stress-inducing when they cover material from the entire semester or determine a significant percentage of the final grade. The following tips can help students and parents successfully navigate the end-of-semester and final exams period. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETips for Your Students:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPlanning is key:\u003C\/strong\u003E Many students think that studying for final exams begins the week before or even the week of finals, but cramming for a major exam is not a good strategy, and trying to do this for several exams at once can feel overwhelming. The best way to prepare, and manage stress, is to begin studying approximately a month before finals begin. The challenge is building in time for review while simultaneously keeping up with the new material covered in the last few weeks of the semester. Students should therefore set aside designated time for review\u2014by scheduling it in their planner\u2014beginning now.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAssessing knowledge: \u003C\/strong\u003EIt\u2019s common for students to glance at their grade on a test or homework assignment, stuff it in the back of their notebook, and feel ready to move on to the next topic or chapter in their course. They may feel relieved to be finished with difficult material, but if students struggled with material on previous tests or homework, without ever really learning it, they are bound to struggle again on the final exam. Now is the time to carefully review old tests and other assignments to determine what they still need to master. This review process will also remind students of their strengths, thus helping them budget and prioritize study time at the end of the semester.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThinking about the big picture:\u003C\/strong\u003E Part of the stress students often experience during finals is feeling that they have to know everything. This usually is not true. First, some final exams aren\u2019t cumulative, so students should make sure they know the purpose of the exam and how much information it will cover. In addition, most exams require students to be able to apply the main concepts, make connections, or explain relationships. Students are more likely to be asked to show that they can integrate material covered throughout the semester than to be asked about tiny details or lots of random facts. It\u2019s important that students talk to their professors to understand faculty expectations.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETiming is everything: \u003C\/strong\u003EWaiting until the week before finals to meet with a professor, TA or tutor\u2014when everyone is busy or even unavailable\u2014can add to a student\u2019s stress. The days leading up to finals should be for reviewing and practicing, not scrambling to learn material for the first time. By beginning to study early, students leave themselves with enough time to seek help if they need it.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKnowing grades and being realistic:\u003C\/strong\u003E It\u2019s a good idea for students to know where they stand as they approach finals. If an \u2018A\u2019 is within reach, devoting extra study time can pay off; if a \u2018C\u2019 is certain, then it may make sense to prioritize preparing for other exams. A first step is to know how much weight each exam carries. The next step for students is to determine how well they are prepared and how well they think they can do on the finals. Meeting with instructors can help clarify these questions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemembering self-care:\u003C\/strong\u003E No one wants to be sick or run-down during final exams. It\u2019s important to remember to make healthy eating choices, get enough sleep and stick to an exercise routine. Students should also set aside some time for fun and relaxation during the days leading up to exams. Studying is important, but students need to feel well, be alert and manage stress in a positive way if they are to do their best.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParents naturally share some of their student\u2019s stress during this time. As parents, you may have great advice to share, but you may feel that your student isn\u2019t listening to you. Here are some tactics you can practice to help your student:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe supportive: \u003C\/strong\u003ERemember that your student may be very focused on exams, and not call home or email you as much as usual. Your student may seem distracted or overly busy. When you do communicate, be positive and encouraging. Sending a card or care package\u2014even if you live nearby\u2014can be a wonderful way to show your support.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBe a good listener: \u003C\/strong\u003EStudents may just want to vent, complain or even have a brief meltdown to let off some steam during this stressful time. They may not expect you to have any solutions, but just want a sympathetic ear to listen or shoulder to cry on. Reminding them of past academic success may be helpful, but just listening may be the best tactic of all.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETime management and prioritizing: \u003C\/strong\u003EYou know that time management is crucial in the weeks and days leading up to finals. You may also know that your student tends to procrastinate, or thrives on routine or becomes forgetful when stressed. Parents can\u2019t manage students\u2019 time, but gentle questions about how they\u2019re planning to study or strategize could be very helpful. A conversation built on questions about what\u2019s working, as well as what\u2019s not, can help your student reflect on current habits and make necessary changes.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you have concerns about your student\u2019s well-being during this time, remember there are a variety of resources available on campus for your student such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.counseling.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECounseling Center\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of the Dean of Students\u003C\/a\u003E. Please encourage them to take advantage of all the support Georgia Tech has to offer. Remind them they don\u2019t have to do it alone!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents should consider attending one of the Preparing for Final Exams workshops offered during the weeks of April 7 and 14.\u0026nbsp; Students may also benefit from the Reducing Test Anxiety workshop on April 8.\u0026nbsp; The full schedule is available at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.success.gatech.edu\/workshops\u0022\u003Ewww.success.gatech.edu\/workshops\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; Academic Coaching is also available to students who want to work on planning for finals, time management, motivation, or any study skills and strategies. Students can schedule academic coaching appointments at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/success.gatech.edu\/academic-coaching\u0022\u003Ewww.success.gatech.edu\/academic-coaching\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information on academic support, including tutoring options and Academic Coaching, visit the Center for Academic Success at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.success.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ewww.success.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"These tips can help students and parents successfully navigate the end-of-semester and final exams period."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2014-04-02 11:27:53","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:16:11","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2014-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/success.gatech.edu\/","title":"Center for Academic Success"}],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"90611","name":"exam preparation"},{"id":"1766","name":"final exams"},{"id":"167229","name":"stress"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBeth Spencer\u003Cbr \/\u003ESenior Assistant Director, Center for Academic Success\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:%20beth.spencer@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebeth.spencer@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["parents@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}