EXAM PREPARATION

Preparing for a final can be daunting whether it’s your first or your tenth. Finals prep is a process that takes time. Prepare for exams every day. Space out your studying and utilize different preparation techniques to achieve success. If you are unsure where to start, here are some questions to ask your professor (or may be found in your syllabus):

1. How many questions will be on the exam?

2. What types of questions will be on the exam?

3. What material will be covered?

4. How much will the exam count toward the final grade?

5. Will the questions come primarily from the notes or the text?

6. Will partial credit be awarded for some answers?

7. How much time will we have for the exam?

8. Will there be any extra credit?

9. What materials (books, notes, calculators, and so on) will we be able to use?

10. What outside material (handouts, readings, etc.) will be included on the exams?

Your class syllabus is also a great tool to help get you prepared for finals. The syllabus will outline the important themes and topics that were covered in class. Those themes and topics can become the skeleton of your study guide.

Content adapted from Hamline University’s Questions to Ask Before an Exam