How to crush Dartmouth finals – by a guy who did

Finals are looming and with that comes panic, all-nighters and lots of coffee.

Don’t fret! The Tab has outlined some useful study tips to knock out your finals this term.

All of these tips come from “How to Become a Straight-A Student” written by Cal Newport, a Dartmouth alum who crushed his finals in style and now teaches at Georgetown.

Build the ultimate study guide

For technical classes

Make a mega problem set comprised of all of the problem sets from the term or sample problems from lecture. Add technical questions to it in order to to test your comprehension.

For non-technical classes

Construct a practice quiz for each chapter covered in the class. Make sure that all of the relevant topics are included.

Plan ahead

Before you even step foot inside of the library, create a calendar for each day describing what parts of your study guide, problem sets, or essay that you want to have completed/written.

Find the the perfect study spot

Ideally ones in isolation are the best, however with people sleeping in the library and Baker not being very big, if you end up in FFBerry or FFBaker that’s fine. However, don’t treat it like a social hour.

Check out The Tab’s article on the best study spots if you need some ideas…

Now that you’re finally settled in…let’s start!

For technical classes

• Start with the technical problems either saying the responses out loud or writing them down.
• Solve the problem sets
• Write out the equations and concepts by hand
• Checkmark the questions that give you trouble
• Review the solutions to these questions
• Take a break
• Then repeat the process
• After you’re finished take the practice exam.

For non-technical classes

• For each question in your practice quiz talk it out
• Fully explain the conclusion and highlights from the supporting evidence
• Put check marks on questions that you had trouble answering
• Glance through the study guide to remind yourself of the answer
• Take a break
• Repeat first step.

For both technical or non-technical classes, study for an hour then take a five to ten minute break.

Brain food

Coffee may be necessary through this stressful time, but don’t overdo it!

Drink plenty of water, eat healthy snacks for energy and try to get some sleep.

Day of the final

For technical classes

• Take the time allotted for the exam and subtract ten minutes (time needed to check your answers)
• Divide this by the number of questions.
• Start with the easy questions then proceed to the hard ones.
• Always check your answers up to the last minute.

For non-technical classes

• For essay questions outline your answers.
• Reread the question carefully.
• Isolate 3 or 4 mini questions from a single essay question.
• Outline on paper the way that you will use what you know to answer these mini-questions.
• Record only a few key words for each point to save time and space.
• Check that you adequately addressed all of the points in the question.
• When you’re sure that you have, begin your essay.
• Follow your outline.
• Leave 10-15 minutes to review/spellcheck your essay.

Wear a watch if you’re not sure if there will be a clock in the exam room.

Study hard, eat smart and grind it out. Good luck! You got this.