It’s the last push: King’s College London students share their best finals week strategies

It’s that time of the year again, the sun is finally making an appearance and finals week is fast approaching. For us KCL students, this means countless hours spent in the Maughan trying to achieve some sort of an academic comeback.

Luckily, the finish line is very much in sight. If you’re wondering how to best cope with the upcoming exam season then here is some advice from students at King’s.

This is their best advice on becoming an academic weapon – as tried and tested by themselves.

Cry

I have to say this is something that most, if not all of us will relate to as crying acts as the answer to 90 per cent of your academic problems. The box of Kleenex will witness you go through the ten stages of academic regret as you question all of the life choices that got you to this position and can simultaneously act as your emotional support during finals week.

Getting a study buddy

Now this can go one of two ways. By deciding to get a study buddy you will either hold each other accountable for not doing work. Or discover that you and your friend should perhaps start a podcast- The Girls Bathroom-style.

However, finding a study buddy will make studying far less lonely when you realise that you’re not the only one in these trenches. You can also use this as an opportunity to share advice and academic wisdom with each other.

Delete TikTok

Most Read

Gal Gadot is getting dragged for this Snow White line where she sounds like Scooby-Doo

This haunting hidden detail everyone missed in Adolescence changes the Netflix show

Watch the video of Lily Phillips’ latest viral challenge, and it’s definitely the most gross yet

A complete social media detox might sound daunting and like the end of the world at first, especially if you rely on TikTok to provide you entertainment throughout the day. But your future self will be thanking you for not spending this time watching your 10th Harry Styles edit of the day.

Take breaks

The key to having some form of sanity left during finals is to take regular breaks from doing work and from your study space. This can be as simple as changing your surroundings by going for a walk to clear your head and give your brain a break from cramming two semesters’ worth of content into a seven hour study session.

Reward yourself

If you find that procrastinating takes up your study periods then rewarding yourself for doing the smallest of tasks will give you more motivation to study. Given that finals are at an unfortunate time when your SFE will be rather depleted, you can of course financially justify this by believing that you’re investing into your future.

Pick a good study spot

Instead of taking the lack of seats in the Maughan as a sign from above to not do any work, make the most of your student loan by taking advantage of all of the study spots that the city has to offer. It seems like common sense but where you study really does define the outcome of your study session.

If you find that you talk to anything with a pulse, then you’re best studying far away from human contact in a booth. Yet if the constant pressure and judgement of other people is required to make you study then you’re best to study in a café.

Relax

Finals week doesn’t mean you have to become a solitary soldier and isolate yourself from the outside world altogether. It’s important to still find time to do the activities that you would enjoy doing on a regular basis. Structure your study time so that you can have time to do things like binging your favourite series or having a relaxing pamper session in the evening, which will help you de-stress.

Working smarter, not harder

Of course it’s tempting to spend this time doing everything but studying. However, using your time efficiently by dividing your study periods into more manageable chunks will force you to actually get the work done. Perhaps you could set a timer to study for 25 minutes and then take a five minute break.

Apps such as Flora will guilt trip you into studying by telling you that you’ve killed a tree. If that doesn’t make you feel bad for not studying, then I don’t know what will. The Hold app is also a blessing in disguise as they reward you for every 20 minutes not spent on your phone, which can later be exchanged for vouchers. A win win situation if I say so myself.