Strategies & Goals Preparing for Final Exams Jacksonville High School Freshmen Advisory Balancing

Time Management 24 hours in a day 24 hours in a day Subtract time needed to eat, sleep, work (if you have a job), and go to school Subtract time needed to eat, sleep, work (if you have a job), and go to school Leftover is the amount of time you have free each day Leftover is the amount of time you have free each day When should the most difficult courses be studied? When should the most difficult courses be studied?

The ABC’s of Preparing for Final Exams One of the most common difficulties that students encounter when preparing for finals is not having allocated enough time for studying

Students who plan their study strategy and manage their anxiety and time effectively are able to study their course materials systematically and have enough time to cover the material they need to know for their final exams The ABC’s of Preparing for Final Exams

By scheduling time to write practice exams similar to the final, they increase their confidence and reduce their exam anxiety The ABC’s of Preparing for Final Exams

A. Organize A. Organize A. Organize A. Organize B. Spend your study time wisely B. Spend your study time wisely B. Spend your study time wisely B. Spend your study time wisely C. Strategize to overcome problems C. Strategize to overcome problems C. Strategize to overcome problems C. Strategize to overcome problems

A: Organize - Study Plan For each class identify difficulty and final exam preparation needs. For each class identify difficulty and final exam preparation needs. What materials should I study? What materials should I study? Sequence and develop a study plan. Sequence and develop a study plan.

B: Spend Your Time Wisely Plan for adequate sleep, exercise, and normal meals (watch too much coffee & soda). Plan for adequate sleep, exercise, and normal meals (watch too much coffee & soda). The remaining class and study times are precious. The remaining class and study times are precious. Watch your energy and anxiety levels. Watch your energy and anxiety levels. A little anxiety is a good thing—what if you have too much anxiety? A little anxiety is a good thing—what if you have too much anxiety?

B: Spending Your Time Wisely… Lowering Anxiety Relax! Relax! Count to ten Count to ten Prepare to maximize learning/When is your best time to study? Prepare to maximize learning/When is your best time to study? Rituals -study/take breaks/review Rituals -study/take breaks/review Test yourself Test yourself Index Cards/Where to get the information? Index Cards/Where to get the information? Mnemonics Mnemonics Songs Songs

C. Strategize to overcome problems C. Strategize to overcome problems Ways of handling the rest of the world C. Strategize to overcome problems Pay attention to your attention Pay attention to your attention Agree with living mates about study time Agree with living mates about study time Get off the phone/TV Get off the phone/TV Learn to say “no” Learn to say “no” Hang out a “do not disturb” sign Hang out a “do not disturb” sign Avoid noise distractions Avoid noise distractions Notice how others misuse your time Notice how others misuse your time

C. Strategize to overcome problems C. Strategize to overcome problems When you get stuck, ask yourself C. Strategize to overcome problems What is one task I can accomplish? What is one task I can accomplish? Am I being too hard on myself? Am I being too hard on myself? Does this need to be perfect? Does this need to be perfect? Can I do just one more thing? Can I do just one more thing? What is the best use of my time right now? What is the best use of my time right now?

C. Strategize to overcome problems C. Strategize to overcome problems Ways to avoid procrastination C. Strategize to overcome problems Make your plans a part of public record Make your plans a part of public record Study with others Study with others Step back and check your progress from time to time Step back and check your progress from time to time Be specific Be specific Visualize success or completion Visualize success or completion Find a reward Find a reward Set early deadlines for yourself Set early deadlines for yourself Prioritize Prioritize

Practicing for Your Final What is important to study? What is important to study? What materials should you use? What materials should you use? Type of questions: Essay, Multiple Choice, T/F, Fill-in, Matching Type of questions: Essay, Multiple Choice, T/F, Fill-in, Matching Learn from your mistakes Learn from your mistakes Time yourself Time yourself Practice reducing anxiety don’t wait until test day Practice reducing anxiety don’t wait until test day Should I cram? Should I cram?

Taking the Final Keep a positive mindset Keep a positive mindset Plan your time Plan your time Read question carefully Read question carefully Strategies for essay, multiple choice, matching, T/F, fill-in Strategies for essay, multiple choice, matching, T/F, fill-in Check every so often that your answer number matches the sc antron Check every so often that your answer number matches the sc antron Be last to Finish Be last to Finish Review test, be sure it is complete Review test, be sure it is complete Each exam is approximately an hour and 25 minutes; you have plenty of time! Each exam is approximately an hour and 25 minutes; you have plenty of time!

Strategies & Goals Preparing for Final Exams Balancing Lingering Questions?

REFs--- What advice can you give your freshmen?? Advisory Teacher---Do you have any advice to give? Freshmen---What questions do you have?