How I Prep for Final Exams as a 4.0 Student 💯📚

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares practical study tips for preparing for final exams. They discuss the importance of reflecting on past assessments to understand the level of detail required for different subjects, prioritizing study time based on exam weights, and changing up study environments to boost productivity. The speaker also encourages seeking clarification from professors in person and reminds viewers that academic success doesn't define their worth. The video is a helpful guide for maintaining a balanced, focused approach to studying during exam season while managing mental well-being.

Takeaways

• 😀 Open-book exams are appreciated for their flexibility and reduce the pressure of memorization-heavy courses.
• 😀 Organizing study materials, like using a binder with chapters, practice exams, and topic lists, helps streamline preparation for exams.
• 😀 Reflecting on past assessments, including quizzes, tests, and assignments, helps predict exam formats and determine how detailed answers should be.
• 😀 Knowing the weight of each exam (e.g., 20% to 55% of your grade) allows you to prioritize and allocate study time accordingly.
• 😀 Changing your study environment can boost focus and create a productive mindset, making it easier to enter 'study mode.'
• 😀 Social accountability, such as studying with others, can enhance productivity and provide motivation during study sessions.
• 😀 Seeking clarification from professors about content or exam format in person is more effective than waiting for email responses.
• 😀 Your worth is not determined by your grades; striving for excellence is important, but mental health should be prioritized.
• 😀 Don't beat yourself up over a poor exam performance—accept that it's okay to not always achieve perfect grades.
• 😀 After an exam, it's important to let go of any negative feelings and focus on moving forward—life continues regardless of academic results.
• 😀 Balancing academic ambition with self-compassion helps reduce stress and promotes a healthier approach to success in university.

Q & A

What is the structure of the speaker's law exam preparation?

The speaker uses an open-book format for their law exam. They organize their study materials by chapters and topics, keeping practice exams and detailed notes in a binder. The binder includes a sheet with topics and chapter outlines, along with notes they have taken for each chapter.

How does the speaker approach studying for different types of exams based on their weight?

The speaker prioritizes exams based on their weight toward the final grade. For example, an exam worth 55% of the final grade receives more preparation time and focus than an exam worth 20%, although this does not mean they neglect the lower-weight exams.

What method does the speaker use to organize their notes for the law class?

The speaker organizes their law class notes in a binder. They keep chapter-wise notes and a reference sheet with the topics covered in each chapter. This binder structure is similar to their approach for their marketing class, and it helps them stay organized and prepared for the final exam.

What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of clarifying doubts with professors?

The speaker stresses the importance of asking professors for clarification in person. They believe it's more effective than emailing because it allows for clearer communication and a better understanding of the answers. The speaker suggests that some professors may not answer emails promptly, making in-person clarification preferable.

What tips does the speaker offer for studying during exam season?

The speaker offers several tips, including: reviewing past assessments to understand exam styles, prioritizing exams based on their weight, changing study environments to boost focus, seeking clarification from professors when necessary, and remembering that grades do not define your self-worth.

How does the speaker handle mental health and academic pressure during exam season?

The speaker encourages maintaining a balanced perspective, stating that grades do not define a person's worth. They acknowledge that while striving for excellence is important, it's also crucial to accept setbacks and not let academic results negatively impact mental health.

What is the speaker's advice regarding study environments?

The speaker advises changing study environments to create a focused mindset. A new setting can help signal that it's time to study, and having others around for social accountability can improve productivity and concentration.

How does the speaker organize their law binder for the final exam?

For their final exam, the speaker plans to replicate the system used for their midterm. They keep practice exams, a reference sheet with topics, and chapter notes in the binder, ensuring that their materials are well-organized and accessible during the exam.

What does the speaker recommend about managing expectations regarding academic performance?

The speaker emphasizes that it's okay to strive for high academic performance but warns against placing one's self-worth in grades. They explain that walking out of an exam not feeling great doesn't define their value, and they advocate for letting go of academic disappointments.

Why does the speaker prefer in-person clarification from professors over emailing?

The speaker prefers in-person clarification because it allows for a clearer explanation and better understanding. In addition, some professors may take longer to respond to emails, making face-to-face interactions more efficient for addressing questions about the content or exam format.