The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, December 01, 1999, Page 10, Image 10
_ _ _EtCetera_ _
A survival guide for final exams
by Maya Holunshead
Staff Writer
It’s that time of the semester Men students get ready for
final exams—and experience stress because of it. But it’s pos
sible to survive a time like this, according to USC’s Academic
Skills Program.
“One way to survive finals is to study during the semes
ter and develop some kind of study strategy at this particular
point,” said Jimmie Monroe, the program’s director.
But he offers hope for the students who haven’t been study
ing. “One of the things I suggest that students to do at this point
if they do want to save their semester is to go back through pri
or tests that they had,” he said.
Monroe recommends that students correct the wrong an
swers on the old tests. They can also ask their professors for old
tests to review the questions and answers.
“Bear down now and really start trying to cover as much
new material as you can and at least be aware of the new ma
terial,” Monroe said. He also said students should review old
material, like lecture notes and chapter summaries, so they
won’t miss out on anything.
Students should try to stay on task while studying, Mon
roe said “A lot of it has to do with students’ abilities to sit down
and stay on task to figure out what their attention span is,” he
said Students who become distracted or feel as if they’re get
ting off task should take a break and go back studying, he said.
Taking good notes in class can also help students during
finals. “Compare the note's against the text, compare the
notes against any handout that might be given in class,” Mon
roe said Asking questions in class also helps, he said
Monroe said it also helps if students don’t wait until the
last minute to study for exams. “The best time to study is im
mediately after the lecture,” he said “Sometimes that’s not pos
sible, but as soon after the lecture as possible.” He said students
should avoid studying right after they’ve eaten.
As for places to study, Monroe suggests “some place that
is quiet or try to find some place that you can maintain a cer
tain amount of concentration.” He also said studying with a
group or with classmates can be beneficial.
“Sometimes, we think we are really studying hard, and
we may be, but we are not studying smart. Studying smart is to
sit down and look at it for what it is and have a strategy for
doing that,” Monroe said
Other advice Monroe offers:
Before the exam
• Immerse yourself in the material and ask, “What is being asked
of me?”
• Don’t read anything in to the test.
• Get a good night’s rest.
• Approach the exam with a positive attitude.
During the exam
• Look through the exam and read the instructions.
• Develop a strategy and try to analyze the exam.
• Answer questions that you know first.
• Narrow down answers.
• If you change an answer, have a good reason. If not, keep
the answer the same.
After the exam
• Ask, “Did I really answer the question?”
For more information on studying habits, come by the Aca
demic Skills Program in LeConte College room 106 or call
777-6573.
Jamais Atkinson
Eddie "Tug" Baker
Lindsay Bausch
Sara Bellino
Katharine Bond
Delacie Boyte
Emma Broom
Sunni Busby
Caroline Casey
Ginna Clark
Erin Coomer
Kristina Cooper
Autumn Coxe
Natalie Deluca
Tamara DiPaolo
Meredith Dukes
Kevin Duncan
Sara Dziejma
Rebecca Floyd
Mary Hartney
Jennifer Huang
Jessica Kristich
Kim Jones
Nicole Lewis
John Monahon
Emily Monroe
Tranaka Oglesby
Alysha Persons
Jennifer Pesce
Allison Phillips
Suzanne Pickard
Maridith Ramsey
Sara Rentz
Paris Robinson
Larcennia Simpson
Kimberly Spencer
Donna Talewsky
Erica Turner
John Van Vleet
Jada Watkins
Amber White
Michael Williams
Adam Wilson
Sara Wood
Office of Leadership Programs
Department of Student Life
Division of Student and Alumni Services
take a break, and grab
a snack during Finals.
I RUSSELL I
HOUSE
UNIVERSITY UNION
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Dec. 6, 7, 8
8:00 pm -11:30 PM
Russell House Lobby • 2nd floor
"^n^ifficia^ookstoreqfUSc\\
1400 Greene St « Russell House »(803) 777-4160 | |
\\\
Monday, Dec. 6
Tuesday, Dec. 7
Wednesday, Dec. 8
Free Pizza (9:30 PM)*
Free Chick-fil-a Chicken
Biscuits (9:30 PM)*
Free Pizza (9:30 PM)*
‘while supplies last
sponsored by: The Russell House Bookstore • Russell House University Union
Student Government • USC Vending • Marriott Food Services
Holiday Tree Lighting Service
Garolina Gares is sponsoring the annual Holiday
h&Tree Lighting Service, Thursday, Oec. 2nd
at 6:30 on the Horseshoe. The program
will showcase a variety of religious performances
from speakers and entertainers. Garolina
Gares invites the Garolina Gommunity
ifhgg^ to share in this celebration of the
holiday season.
for more information contact the Office of Gommunity Service Vrograms at 777-6688.
50% MORE ON BOOK BUYBACK!
* Based on Industry adveragas. Local store prices may vary. O 1999 BIG WORDS. Inc.
t’ & ' c