All those hours spent in classrooms, labs, and lecture halls eventually culminate in the form of final exams. Whether it’s earning your bachelor’s degree or professional certification, the process comes down to successfully passing one or more exams specifically designed to test your knowledge and expertise regarding the esoteric subject matter.
Passing a final exam on the first try is standard in some situations and exceptional in others. In either case, it’s safe to assume everyone prefers to do their best.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at eight essentials for passing your final exams with flying colors:
Pay attention
You’re in school to learn. You’re not there to browse Facebook, daydream, doodle, or socialize. What you do with your time in college is ultimately your business, but think about how much money you’re paying for the privilege of learning the information being explained by knowledgeable professors. With this in mind, those driven by a desire to pass their final exams with flying colors should make an effort to pay attention to everything they’re being taught. Even a 30-second break in concentration could be the difference between mastering the material and coming up short.
Take notes
Teachers and professors are always telling their students to take notes. That’s a testament to their importance when it comes to testing time. There are many resources online for how to take effective notes, but don’t waste time sticking to a system if it’s not working. Find a way to take notes that you find easy and effective, and keep using that method throughout your academic career. It also pays to buddy up with one or more of your fellow students and compare notes over the course of the semester. Doing so will reduce the chances of missing something important.
Ask questions
Don’t hesitate to ask your instructor any questions that come to mind. With that said, consider whether or not your questions are worth stopping the lesson to have answered or could be more easily asked via email or personal meeting during office hours. The bottom line is that your questions represent gaps in your knowledge. In order to pass your exams with flying colors, you’ll want these gaps filled. The easiest way to get that done is to ask!
Study
Studying means different things to different people. For some, it’s a review of the material already covered. For others, it means expanding on what was taught in order to have an advanced understanding of the information. When it comes to passing your exams with flying colors, the more time spent on material appearing on the test, the better. Of course, you can’t ever know precisely what will be on the exam, but there are ways to have an educated guess, starting with your notes.
Take practice exams
While the final exams found at the end of college courses will vary from one professor to another, standardized exams found at the beginning of professional pursuits are, as the name suggests, fairly standard in terms of assessment, structure, and subject matter. As a result, it’s possible to take practice versions that are nearly identical to the actual test. For instance, those on their way to earning ABFM certification can take a practice family medicine board exam before taking the real one. Doing so will prepare them in ways that are nearly impossible to achieve with traditional studying techniques.
Eat right
Certain types of foods are shown to boost memory and improve focus. The list of foods that help our brain study include fish, eggs, nuts, beans, and certain dairy products. We suggest filling up on these and other brain-boosting foods in the days leading up to your final exam.
Sleep well
Nothing beats a good night’s sleep when it comes to having the mental focus and physical stamina required to undergo stressful situations. With this in mind, make sure to get plenty of quality sleep for at least a week leading up to your exam.
When it comes to education, all roads lead to final exams. Those interested in passing their final exams with flying colors will need to do everything they can leading up to test day. Fortunately, there are many options and techniques available.
Vivien Bell is a freelance writer from Maryland. She enjoys writing about education, family, home living, and pet care.
