For some, December is relaxing, as Christmas is approaching. For others, it is no different than any other month of the year. But for U of D Jesuit students, December is the time for one stressful week- finals week.

The anticipation for Christmas break is as strong as ever, with the holidays right around the corner and we are digging through our closets looking for our ugly Christmas sweater to wear, but exams are the last effort students have to put in before the much needed break and hours of TV binging can begin. Exams found at The High can range from projects, to the hardest test you will take all year; the possibilities are endless. In an attempt to help ease the work load for these exams, here are some tips and tricks to ensure success on these exams, as well as some actions to stay away from.

Do– Study a little bit each day before the tests.

While it may be easy to just procrastinate studying until Monday night, or the day before the test, it is so much easier to review the material a little bit each day before.

Don’t- Cram

“Studies show cramming…” blah blah blah. Just don’t do it. Sure, cramming seems easier, but in reality, you usually regret doing it and ultimately wish there was more time to study, which there was if you studied a reasonable amount each night prior.

 

Do- Make a study guide

Making a study guide is a great way to organize the materials on the exam and make sure you understand all information you will be tested on. Even if your teacher does not make one, creating your own one is a good idea to gauge what you know and what you don’t.

Don’t- Cheat

Not only is cheating just a bad thing to do, “academic integrity is paramount to your character.” Cheating, whether you get caught or not, is often more difficult of a task to pull off then just actually studying.

 

Do- Sleep well and eat a good breakfast.

The last thing you’ll want to do is either be starving during your tests, or fall asleep mid-question. Getting sleep is almost as important as studying, so get off Tiktok and close your eyes!

Don’t- Pretend to be sick.

Sure, you miss the exam on the normal test day, but that only means you have to come to school on the Thursday before break and make it up, or come at a later time. You definitely will not be exempt from the test, so it’s a lose-lose. You will either come to school during break, or stress about it all break.

 

 

 

Do- Relax, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

Sure, these exams might be intimidating, especially as a new student, but in the long run you’ll wish you never stressed so much.

 

Exams may seem like a daunting task to complete this time of year, but if you use these tips,  they will become a tad bit easier. Good luck Cubs!