3 Study Tips for Final Exams
Tips for preparing to take final exams are a dime a dozen. Everybody -- meaning law students, law professors, and lawyers -- has a pointer. And there's nothing wrong with that. But when time is running out before the big day, you need to get down to basics.
Here are three -- out of dozens -- that we chose just for you:
No. 1 Create a Study Plan
Mary Kate Sheridan, a senior editor at Vault, offers 8 tips for tackling law school exams. Her number one tip is a good start. If you haven't begun preparing, she says, start now. "One way to stay on top of your work is to create a study plan," she writes. "Pull up a calendar, and schedule specific times for your various study goals." Of course, it is better to have a study plan at the beginning of the semester. But it's crunch time, so plan your remaining time wisely.
No. 2 Take Practice Exams
Chapman University's law school (where yours truly taught) has a list of 20 tips for law school success. They all add up to passing exams, which is why the professors teach: "Take practice exams."
"Lots of them," the Academic Achievement Program says. Exams previously administered by your professor are preferable." Check the law school library for prior exams. If there is no sample answer on file, ask the professor to review and comment on your own. Don't wait until the last minute, of course.
No. 3 Study, Sleep, Eat
FindLaw's George Khoury has five more tips for law students preparing for final exams. These tips are the healthy student's approach.
"One often neglected aspect of exam preparation is mealtime," he writes. "You really don't want to end up falling asleep, or worse, feeling starving, in the middle of a two hour exam." In other words, after you have followed a study plan and taken practices exams, get some sleep and have a good meal. Don't eat like it's your last meal; that's a different story. Try some healthy foods, focus more on lean protein than carbs, and don't overdo.
Got suggestions? Feel free to tweet us @FindawLP and let us know your ideas. Good luck!
Related Resources:
- Law School Practice Exams: Resources (FindLaw's Law Students)
- Student Sues Law School Over Failing Class (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Study Blames Law Students - Not Law Schools - for Low Bar Pass Rates (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)