Created by Takeyda Williams, Graduate Coordinator of Student Center/Grad. Inter for Harley E. Flack Mentoring
Gardy J. Guiteau, Assistant Director of Mentoring and Academic Enrichment
David Shanks, Graduate Coordinator, Harley E. Flack Student Mentoring Program
Agenda
 Know

your Final Exam Schedule
 Get Ready: Know what you’re in for
 Get Set: Create a plan to manage your
time and stress
 Go: Study Smart and Get Help When
Needed
 Conclusion
Get Ready:
Know what you’re in for

Prioritize, set goals, know where you stand in
your classes, grades, etc.
Know the rules (communicate with your
professors).
Gather and organize your materials – take
inventory of lecture notes.
Know your strengths & weaknesses.
Get Set: Create a Plan to
Manage your Time and Stress

 Use a calendar
 Make a schedule
 Make a master to-do list
 Break up large tasks, do more difficult tasks when
you feel your best
 Remember that most tasks take twice as long as you
expect
 Make appointments for tutoring/create study
groups
 Take care of your mental & physical needs
Get Set: Organize yourself and
Organize your Days

Organization should be the first step in preparing for the
final exam period because it helps with:
Saving time which would be spent on looking for
misplaced items.
Being more efficient in completing school work.
Decreasing levels of stress and frustration.
Adapted from “Managing Time and Staying Motivated” in Step by Step to College Success by Gardner and Barefoot
& “Managing your Time and Money” in Your College Experience: Strategies for success by Gardner et al
Get Set:
Five Tips for general organization
To become an organized person, you need to start thinking like one.
The following is a list of tips to help you become organized and stay
on the organized path:
1. It’s all in the plan:
to be completed.

Proper planning gives the overall picture of the task
2. Time management: While we can’t control how many hours are in a
day, we can control how we use the time that we do have.
3. Don’t put it down; put it away:
Putting something down “for
now” requires remembering to go back and put it away later.
4. Let clutter annoy you: Clutter is anything you do not use and do not
need. When you spot clutter, deal with it immediately; throw it away or
donate it.
5. Open and process all mail: Don’t let emails pile up. This can get out
of hand just like any other paper work.
Adapted from “Managing Time and Staying Motivated” in Step by Step to College Success by Gardner and Barefoot
& “Managing your Time and Money” in Your College Experience: Strategies for success by Gardner et al
Go: Study Smart and
Get Help When Needed

 Study in a quiet, distraction-free environment.
 Study Actively – Set goals and reward yourself (take
periodic breaks).
 Diversify – Use different study methods and tools.
 Utilize or create review sheets.
 Get a tutor.
 www.rowan.edu/rsn or tutoringcenter@rowan.edu
 rowan.mywconline.com/ or writingcenter@rowan.edu
 Form study groups.
 Predict exam questions – Test yourself.
 Think positively! Stay motivated.
Studying Smart: Five Key Strategies
Studying helps to develop a deep understanding of course material. The
following seven strategies will help you to that end:

1.
2.
3.
4.
Be present for your learning.
Over-learn the course material.
Do your own research.
Connect the coursework to your life
experiences.
5. Get organized.
Adapted from “Listening, Note-Taking, and Participating in Class” in Step by Step to College Success by Gardner and Barefoot
& “Learning to Study, Comprehend, and Remember” in Your College Experience: Strategies for success by Gardner et al
Go:
Tips for Successful Test Taking

 Write down your name on the test and answer sheet.
 Before look at the questions, turn the test over and write down any
formulas or key concepts.
 Review the test - Take a long deep breath. Read all the directions so
that you understand what to do.
 Make the best use of your time. Survey the exam and decide how
much time you’ll need for each section.
 Answer the easy questions first.
 If you start to panic. STOP. Take a deep breath take a break and go
to something else. Come back to it.
 If you finish early, DON’T LEAVE. Take the extra time to review
for errors.
Conclusion

 One of the most important things in preparing for final
exams is to know what you are in for. Awareness of what is
due, when, and how to go about it is the first step towards
success during the final exam period.
 The second important strategy that will ensure success is
time management and organization. Giving yourself enough
time to complete the work required and staying organized in
how you study will be imperative to your success..
 Lastly, not going it alone and getting help. Getting help from
your professors, a tutor, or study groups will make a huge
difference in how prepared you are to take your exams or
complete papers and projects.