The final countdown: tips and tricks for acing that test

By: Asan Anarkulov

Staff Writer

As May arrives, more students visit the Marvin Library. Finals are fast approaching and it’s time to buckle down.

Students and professors provide insight into what helps get A’s.

“I like to spread my study over time,” Megan Utama, a business administration major, said. “It’s very efficient [and] it helps me to remember more and it doesn’t require as much time as if you study everything in one session.”

A similar technique was utilized by David Isaac Robertson, an engineering science student. The biggest strategy he employed came long before the final. It came in the first week of class.

“I make sure I understand where the bulk of my grade will come from and that’s where I spend the most time and effort,” Robertson said.

Danica A. Nowosielski, an associate professor of chemistry at Hudson Valley Community College, confirmed this method of preparation.

“Students should keep in mind from the first day of the semester that the final exam is not really a silver bullet and rarely significantly improves your grade,” Nowosielski explained. “Working with the material all semester long, doing your homework and reviewing as necessary are very helpful.”

According to Nicholas Viscio, a part-time adjunct instructor, students should start now by taking small test preparation steps in every one of their subjects.

“Some of my tests cover topics I have specifically covered only in the classroom and not necessarily from the text,” Viscio said. “Attending class is key.”

Nowosielski agreed class attendance is a very important determining factor for a student’s final grade.

“It seems that students who do not attend class do not do as well on the final exam as they could,” she said.

Nowosielski also emphasized the importance of review sessions.

“Attend [review sessions] even if you don’t have questions yourself,” she said. “Other students in the class may ask about topics that you will benefit from hearing discussed again.”

Attendance, communication and early studying are key components of succeeding during finals. However, most of the semester has already passed. Finals are almost here.

Eric Segerstrom, an engineering science major, explained that he keeps a sheet of paper nearby to write down any important information and formulas that come up.

“I try to keep it well-organized so that when I’m done, everything I need to know for that test is on that sheet,” he said.

Additionally, Segerstrom reminded students to get proper rest and to eat a proper meal before finals.

“Don’t sacrifice sleep or food to study,” he said. “You tend to remember more than you think you will if you’re well-rested and not hungry.”

Luke Mara, criminal justice major, finds it helpful to communicate with his professors.  

“Students need to take advantage of their professors’ office hours,” Mara said. “This one-on-one time is the best way to review because you get a better idea of the concepts that will be on the final exam, therefore narrowing your areas to study.”

Furthermore, Mara encourages students to use school resources. For Mara’s statistics class, he spent countless hours in the Learning Assistance Center (LAC) help desk.

“I have never been a good math student getting a B at best in high school. With the help of the LAC, I was able to pull off an A in college,” Mara said.