PREPARING FOR FINAL EXAMS
“Make sure you study!” that is something that students hear right before final exams. What adults often don’t recognize is that, for some students, these words are empty. They may be brushed off with, “Yeah, I’ve got it,” or they may evoke a feeling of uncontrollable stress.
What does it mean to study for a test? Some students might think that simply looking at a list of vocabulary words or a study guide provided by their teacher is good enough. Classroom content and homework all made sense, so what else could there be?
STUDY SKILLS ARE SKILLS
Active study skills are not always explicitly taught. Instead, they are often implied in the way required assignments lead students through the steps of note-taking, graphic organizing, etc. Studying effectively means taking on more and more of these steps independently as students progress through school. For those who struggle academically, this implied practice might have been missed, and students can feel lost.
Some students, for example, may have spent so much energy trying to sit still and stay focused in class that the practical benefits of annotating text, distilling information down, or repeatedly working through complex math problems may not be obvious. They might not make the connection between specific study skills and how they feel on a test because distraction or anxiety makes it difficult to reflect.
Those labeled as “gifted” may have been able to skip specific study strategies up until the point that the curriculum became too challenging. These students now feel stuck and can be unsure about asking for help. All math through algebra II came relatively easily to them, but now that they are in precalculus, they aren’t sure how to thoroughly learn the challenging material placed before them. Where does one find practice problems? How does a person work through equations when the process isn’t clear? Is simply finishing the homework enough?
HOW A TUTOR MIGHT HELP WITH PREPARING FOR FINAL EXAMS
Working with a tutor is a great resource for having someone explain confusing content. In addition, tutors can make suggestions for and model study skills to help a student figure out what works for them, what doesn’t work, and how to make a study plan that fits their needs.Here are a few things that a tutor might do with a student:
Plot out a study calendar
Help students prioritize extracurriculars and other obligations prior to tests
Help with writing emails to set up meetings with teachers
Help students formulate questions for teachers
Organize notes
Make flash cards/study cards
Identify sections of textbooks for review
Review and explain the content
Find online resources for reinforcing information
Provide extra practice problems
Quiz students on content
Some students can use a tough experience to improve on their own, perhaps with the help of online videos (such as Crash Course Study Skills), but if figuring this out independently feels overwhelming, your student is not alone. Improving study habits can be like taking an independent study course. Unlike a study skills class or online videos, one-on-one tutors can work with an individual student’s roadblocks, help with problem-solving, and celebrate small successes. Tutors can adjust and respond when a student is feeling overwhelmed and one-size-fits-all solutions are not working.
Study skills are skills, and young people deserve specific, practical guidance when learning any new skill. For more, learn about our executive functioning skills support or schedule a free consultation to discuss how our tutors can help your student, before, during, or after finals.