Final Exam Preparation Tips from High-achieving Students at Our University
The Chungdae Times regular reporter Eun-vit Koh
As the final exam season approaches, it’s common to see students on campus enthusiastically immersed in their studies. Many students struggle to find effective strategies tailored to their majors. To provide practical guidance, this article shares the exam preparation methods of top-performing students to provide meaningful guidance to fellow students.
Interview with Kyung-in Kwon, a student from the Department of Advertising & Public Relations
Q1. How do you manage your condition during the exam period? During exam periods, I tried to get enough sleep. Sometimes I should stay up late because I have a lot to study, but I make sure to sleep at least four hours. Getting proper rest improves my focus and memory, enabling me to study more effectively the following day. Taking short breaks, such as stretching or going on walks also helps maintain my overall condition.
Q2. Do you have any unique study habits? One study habit I have is using a blue pen. When I was in middle school, I read an article that said writing with a blue pen helps with memory retention. Ever since, it has become a habit. Writing key points and essential concepts in blue not only makes them visually striking but also helps me remember them better. I organize my blue-pen notes, read them aloud, and repeat the material as part of my preparation. This method has significantly enhanced my exam readiness.
Q3. Are there any tools or apps you recommend for studying? ‘GoodNotes’ is widely recognized for notetaking and organizing materials, but I also frequently use ‘Google Sheets.' I use it to plan my schedule by subject, and summarize lecture materials, to save all my notes in one place. Additionally, I rely on Pomodoro timer videos available on YouTube to manage my study and break times effectively, which helps maintain a good balance between focused work and rest.
Interview with Ji-yong Kim, a student from the Department Social Welfare & Sociology and the Department of Library & Information Science
Q1. When do you start preparing for exams, and how do you organize your daily schedule? I don’t set a specific timeline for preparation, but I make sure to organize the material and study each subject at least three times in different ways. First, I read the material aloud while highlighting important sections. Second, I summarize key points in my notebook and review them again. Lastly, I try explaining the content based on the summarized key points until I can recall everything. In my experience, it’s most effective to leave at least five days for review after completing the material organization.
Q2. Do you have any unique study habits? I organize my study materials into a single HWP file (word processor) that I can carry around. Every major cover so much material, so condensing the content from textbook and lecture slides into about ten pages helps me focus on the key points and potentially examinable material.
Q3. How do you overcome slumps? When I really don’t feel like studying, I go for a run. Running for about an hour helps clear my mind and refresh my mood. If that doesn’t work, I motivate myself by imagining the consequences of getting lower grades. The thought of a drop in my performance is usually enough to motivate me back to studying.
Q4. Do you have any advice or tips for fellow students preparing for exams? Healthy motivation is essential for everything – exams, hobbies, and even exercise. Personally, I aim for a full scholarship every semester, which keeps me motivated. Instead of thinking, “I have to do this” or “I need to take the exam,” I encourage my peers to use this opportunity to think about their dreams and future goals. If I can do it, so can you. Let’s work hard and achieve great results together this semester. Our university students, keep it up!
Interview with Eun-seo Baek, a student from the Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences
Q1. When do you start preparing for exams, and how do you structure your daily study schedule? I always start preparing at least three weeks before exams and divide my studies into three stages. In the first week, I review missed or unclear parts by listening to lecture recordings. In the second week, I repeatedly read through the organized material at least three times. In the third week, I create practice questions in a Q&A format and quiz myself to reinforce my knowledge and finalize my preparation.
Q2. Do you have any unique study habits? I use different colored pens for specific purposes. I write main topics and key explanations in black, detail their applications in blue, add supplementary information in green, and mark essential points or exam-focused material in red. This color-coded system makes my notes much easier to review later and helps me visually distinguish between different types of information.
Q3. Do you have any advice for students preparing for exams? One of my key habits is recording all lectures after getting permission from professors at the first class. This way, I can revisit unclear parts later and organize them at my own pace. It’s a great way to ensure nothing is missed and to prepare thoroughly.
Interview with Seung-ju Lee, a student from the Department of Library & Information Science
Q1. How do you manage your condition during the exam period? I avoid activities that could exhaust me, such as drinking, and engage in light exercise to maintain a healthy routine and enhance my focus.
Q2. When do you start preparing for exams, and how do you structure your daily schedule? I start preparing about a week before each exam. By two to three days before the test, I read through the material at least once and spend the remaining days on repeated reviews.
Q3. Do you have any unique study habits? When I first review exam material, I summarize key points in handwritten notes. I keep these notes simple, focusing on the essential information, and use a red pen to highlight particularly important sections.
Q4. How do you overcome slumps? When I hit a slump, I set a minimum study goal for the day. And once I reach it, I use the rest of the time taking a walk or reflecting to clear my mind.
Q5. Where do you prefer to study? I’m comfortable studying anywhere as long as it’s not too noisy And I usually study in our department’s resource room or at my home.
Q6. Do you have any advice or tips for fellow students preparing for exams? I recommend finding a study method that works best for you. For example, some people perform well by staying up all night, but I need enough sleep to stay in good condition. Discovering and sticking to your own study style is crucial for success.
Through these interviews, we’ve examined various study methods and tips from our university’s students. Although their approaches are different, the common takeaway is clear: It’s key to find and systematize a method that works for you.
Understanding your unique characteristics and applying them to your study habits will lead to more effective learning. Academic success doesn’t come from hard work but from consistently practicing methods that suit you best. Many students have achieved their goals by discovering their personalized study strategies, and you can too.
Finally, our university offers numerous programs and resources for students to explore and implement their study methods. Actively utilizing these will greatly support your academic and personal growth. Good luck with your finals, and may your efforts lead to excellent results!
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