Everyone always stresses out the week before and the week of midterms/finals. That's why I decided to come up with a few tips to help everyone, myself included, on how to succeed during midterms week.
1. Eat and Drink well
I put this first, because this is so important for your success throughout your exams. Getting the right nutrients to help you properly focus will really help you in the long run.
2. Get a Good Night of Sleep
Sleep is also extremely important to your success during midterms. However, most people will decide to pull an "all-nighter" before a major exam and then not do as well in the long run. This is because your brain and body are not properly rested to function. Make sure not to go to sleep too early also if you're not tired; it will just result in your laying in bed and stressing more about your exam, which is never good.
3. Prepare Beforehand
Don't wait until the very last minute to begin studying. Studies have shown that studying in small increments leading up to a major exam rather than cramming everything in the night before is much more beneficial to your success. You truly are able to retain the knowledge that is prudent on your exam.
Then it comes time for the exam. It is crucial to relax and stay calm or else the entire test you will be frantic and not concentrating. Here are a few more tips during the exam:
4. Skip Questions You Don't Know
If you don't know an answer right away, don't worry about it, just skip it and then come back to it at the end of the test. You will be more successful going to the problems that you know you can 100% answer correctly rather than sitting and staring at a problem you don't know how to even begin.
5. Take Short Breaks in Between Sections
It is important to give your brain a rest and recollect your thoughts. A good time to do this is during changes in format or sections of the exam. For example, if you were doing all multiple choice and then the format changed to matching; take a breath, recollect your thoughts, then begin working again.
6. Leave With a Smile
Once you hand in that exam, don't worry about it anymore. Stressing about how you did will not make anything any easier and will most likely distract you from preparing for your other exams. Even if you didn't do as well as you had hoped, at least the exam is over!
If you complete these steps that I have listed above, you will truly be able to succeed on your next exam. To recap: eat well, sleep, prepare early, and relax during the exam.
