When it comes to studying for finals, organization is key. More likely than not, you’re going to be studying for multiple exams, and will have to devote time to all of them. So, set up a schedule. This schedule should be made AT LEAST 3 weeks in advance (you should have some idea of what will be on the test by then. And once you make that schedule, stick to it! Make sure that you’ve penciled in ample time for each subject, reserving more time for the subjects that need it. Let’s face it, you’ll need to study more for that class you have a C in than the one you’re acing.

Now that you’ve got you’re time scheduled, the question is “How do I study for this?” Going through the text, and reading your notes helps a LOT, but one of the most importance study resources is going to be something you probably won’t want to revisit: OLD TESTS! Remember, the people writing these finals are the same people who wrote those tests. They are excellent guides for what to expect on the final. Look through them. What did you get wrong? What did you get right? Review the questions (some of them may even be repeated on the final), and try to get a feel for what might appear on the final exam. But remember, the tests can’t be your only resource; you DO have to review your notes and reading assignments.

And finally, get yourself in the right state of mind. Get a good night sleep the night before. 15 minutes before the tests, stop all studying and relax. If you don’t know it by then, you don’t know it. What’s important is to be calm, collected, and focused. You can’t do that if you’re using the last bit of time to memorize 3 weeks worth of notes. So, schedule, review, relax, and good luck!