How to Ace Your Finals

Write, and rewrite, and rewrite, and rewrite. If you want to get an A that’s what you gotta do. I don’t care how beautifully typed and formatted your notes are, they’re just not gonna cut it.

There is a proven link between writing out notes and memorizing them. When we write, our brain simultaneously processes the movement associated with drawing the letters along with the actual information being processed. The movement provides another pathway for the brain to recall the information later on. On the other hand, when we type, our fingers are repeating the same movement for every letter making it hard for the brain to distinguish between important and unimportant words.

Do you remember back in the day when your teacher made you rewrite spelling words over and over again? This is why. I recently realized that I subconsciously rewrite important words or concepts on the margins when I’m studying. Because I rewrite and rewrite and rewrite, I do well on my finals.

How to study:

  1. If you typed your notes for the class, print them all out and have them in front of you.
  2.  Don’t highlight – that’s high school shit. 
  3.  Grab a colored pen – I prefer red.
  4. If you have OCD and do not want to write on the typed notes, grab some loose-leaf paper to write on instead.
  5. Go through your notes and rewrite only keywords or sentences that you know will be on the test.

For future references, write out your notes throughout the semester. I guarantee that when finals come, you will be less overwhelmed. 

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