Mastering Midterms: 5 Habits to Help You Make the Grade

October 13, 2023
11:03 am

For many students, midterms and finals are a source of stress and anxiety every semester. All the work that goes into test prep, papers, and group projects can be exhausting. While midterms may never be easy, there are some things that can help. Here are five habits that can help you master your midterms and make the grade.

#1 Make a Plan

There are so many little tasks involved with testing season, and you likely have a lot on your plate outside of school as well. Trying to track all of the details can be overwhelming, and there’s the real possibility of things falling through the cracks. That’s why it’s so important to sit down and make a plan.

First, make a total to-do list. Start with all of your assignments and projects and their due dates. Next, write out the dates of any tests you have. Then, list out your work schedule, family/friend events, important life tasks, and any other pressing things you have to do. This part might seem a little daunting, but trust the process. It will help.

Next, do some triage. What are the very most important things with the nearest due dates, or will have the biggest impact on your life? Those are your top priorities to tackle as soon as possible.

An example of a top priority might be a ten-page paper that’s worth half of your final grade. Another might be going to work.

After finding the top priorities, it’s time to find the least important tasks. What are the things that you can put off or skip without impacting your health and safety, grades, job, or family? Those are the things that go on the very bottom of the to-do list, and it’s okay to stop worrying about them.

An example of a bottom priority might be doing the weekly vacuuming. Another could be attending a football game with your friends.

The things that are left over go in the center of your list. They are the things that are important but aren’t immediately pressing. As you complete your top-priority list you can move things from the middle list up to take their place.

Now, you can use your lists to make a daily schedule. Color code it, or mark it so you can clearly see the things that are top, and middle priorities. You can choose whether or not to include the bottom priorities in your list. If you choose to include them, make sure you can ignore them if you need to.

#2 Set Up a Reward System

Maintaining motivation during the stress of midterms and finals is a vital part of success. One way to boost your motivation is to set up a reward system. The idea is simple. Choose a small, healthy reward for accomplishing particular tasks. For example, watching an episode of your favorite TV show after finishing one of your study guides. Another reward might be going to dinner with friends after finishing your top-priorities for the week.

There are a lot of ways to set up reward systems. So, get creative and find things that work for you. There are only 2 major rules. Rule #1, you have to be strict with yourself. You have to accomplish the task(s) to get the reward. Rule #2, the reward should be healthy, appropriate, and affordable. In other words, it should be something that refreshes and motivates you, not something that exhausts you or causes regret.

#3 Prioritize Yourself

It’s easy to list things like sleep, and nutrition at the bottom of your priority list. However, self-care is one of the most vital top priorities you can have. Practicing good self-care is proven to reduce stress, and help you manage anxiety and depression. With all of the added strain during testing seasons, self-care becomes all the more important for maintaining your physical and mental health, as well as keeping you at peak performance.

Make sure to prioritize yourself. Avoid sacrificing sleep, make sure you eat nutritious foods whenever possible, drink plenty of water, and take regular breaks. You’re worth the effort.

#4 Expect the Unexpected

Even with all the scheduling and planning, the unexpected still happens. You could get called into work for an emergency, your laptop could crash, or there could be a massive line for the printer. Any number of unforeseen events might crop up. A little preparation can be the difference between an inconvenience and a disaster.

Doing simple things like saving your work to the cloud, packing a snack, and getting ahead on your work could all make a big difference. Examine your life and try to think of the most likely obstacles that could get in your way and try to prepare for them. You don’t have to over-prepare for unlikely possibilities, and don’t agonize over the “what-ifs”. Just try to look at the most reasonable problems you could face, and take some small precautions to mitigate them.

#5 Ask for Help

Asking for help can be the difference between a successful midterm or final, and having to retake a course. Look up the options available to you. Most campuses have writing centers and tutoring centers. Most professors have office hours where you can go and get some one-on-one help. Or, you can hire an academic coach.

Midterms and finals are stressful. However, they don’t have to be crushing. With a little planning, self-care, and help, you can thrive during testing season.