As finals approach students often find themselves overwhelmed with the amount of material they need to review. To help ease the stress and ensure success, teachers and counselors at Cypress High School have shared their top tips for effective studying.
A lot of students are voicing their stress for the upcoming finals. “I’m really worried about how this would affect my grades, and how they’re all at the same time,” said freshman Zina Obid.
Other students are worried about specific subjects. “I’m terrified of finals and I’m really worried about how I’ll do on my math finals,” said sophomore Haya Elannan. Junior Rachel Byrne said, “I don’t feel like I’m ready for finals, and I’m really worried how it’ll go in Math.” Senior Delylah Kropf said “I feel nervous and I’m really worried about math, but I’m confident in English.”
Special Ed Teacher/Baseball Coach John Weber, stressed the importance of understanding one’s learning style. “Some students learn better through visual aids, others through auditory methods. Identify what works best for you and tailor your study sessions accordingly.” It helps to go over and memorize formulas and work on any practice problems. Weber also advises students to “not be afraid to ask questions,” asking questions can help you understand what you’re doing better, and help make studying a little easier.
“Making schedules can help a lot with studying,” said Chem teacher Sara Moore. “For example, dedicate a whole day to chemistry, and the next day to studying for English.” This structured approach helps students manage their time efficiently and ensures that each subject receives attention. It can also help prevent last-minute cramming and reduce stress. Plus, focusing on one subject at a time allows you to dive deeper into the material, making it easier to understand and remember.
History teacher, Steve Cini, advised students to make use of study groups. “With history you need to learn the material slowly and moderately over time.” History is a subject that involves a lot of details, dates, and complex events. Trying to learn everything quickly can be overwhelming and lead to confusion. By studying slowly and steadily, you can better absorb the information, make connections between events, and understand the broader context. This can help improve retention and makes it easier to recall information during exams or discussions.
In addition to these tips, it’s also essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Get enough sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated,” advised Lead Counselor Mary Binford. “Working with peers, testing each other, and practicing with each other,” can help not only you but other students. Repeatedly going over the concepts with other students and working over problems with each other can help with fully comprehending the material. Ninth-grade counselor Ayla Wunder suggested “make sure to take breaks and take care of yourself,” and to remind yourself that “from failure we learn, just recognize you are more than just your grades,” said Wunder. Tenth-grade counselor Amanda Lu, highlighted the benefits of staying organized and wants everyone to know that “it should be a reminder that one, you’re all still growing, and two, you should engage with the material and not just memorize it.”
By incorporating these strategies into their study routines, students can approach their finals with confidence and a clear plan. Using these tips can help reduce stress and make studying a lot easier.
