WHAT DO I NEED TO CREATE AN EXAM PREPARATION PLAN?

Ask yourself these questions to create an exam preparation plan.

1. W hat type of final exam is it (e.g., multiple choice questions, short-answer, essay, true/false questions)?

2. What is the date of the exam?

3. How much time is needed to prepare for each final assignment?

• What classes or topics do you feel comfortable with?

• What classes or topics might you need to spend more time with?

These questions can help you determine how much time you should spend preparing for each subject.

4. What materials will you need to successfully pr epare for each final exam or assignment? This could be supplies like highlighters and flashcards, or materials that are directly class-related like handouts or study guides.

5. What commitments do you need to keep and what commitments can you let go during finals preparation time? Think through your priorities and what those look like. You may need to continue working during finals period, but maybe you skip a few club meetings.

• Set the expectation with family and friends that you will need to study hard and that you might not be able to come home on the weekends, chat on the phone for hours, or play host during a surprise visit.

Pro Tip: Schedule time in your exam preparation to socialize with friends and to practice self-care. Knowing that you will have a break will keep you motivated during periods of studying.

6. What time of the day do you feel more productive? If you feel m ore productive in the morning, schedule the majority of your studying/finals preparation time during the morning.

7. What is your ideal study environment? Some characteristics to consider are noise level, amount of light, types of seating, amount of people, water fountains/fill station access, snacks nearby, etc. Think about what characteristics are important to you and use the Quiet Study Spaces Guide and the University Libraries’ Find A Space feature to find some study spaces on campus.

8. For what classes might you need additional support? For those classe s, create a study group. Use these groups to review content that you are not feeling confident about and also to cement your own learning by teaching content to others. Study groups should be made up of people in your class who are comfortable with the information presented and those who may struggle - not just people from your social circle. Visit go.umd.edu/caltoolkit for detailed information about how to form an effective study group.

9. Wh at is going to motivate you to study and prepare for finals exams? It may be helpful to set up personal accountability measures for yourself. Will you spend 90 minutes in the library each day? Will you complete non-final exam assignments by a certain date so you can get a jump-start on preparing for finals? Will you set up study dates with friends to ensure you get work done? Decide what will work best for you and make a commitment.

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