HOW TO PREPARE FOR ONLINE FINAL EXAM

By Farhira Farudin

For many of us, going to classes online hasn't always been an easy journey. Most of us are indeed struggling to cope with the new methods of learning, but what should we do when we have to take final exam from home? Final exam weeks are the most dreadful times for students. We need proper study management so that we could reach our target and be satisfied with our results. Here are some tips on how you can prepare to take final exam online:

1) Have proper time management

Whether you are studying from the seat in a class or on your own bed at home, time management is essential for you to prepare yourself well and ahead of your final exam. Make sure to create a personal schedule for you to manage your time so you wouldn't miss out on your revision and important examination date. If you have a hectic schedule, try to make time for your revision in between so you could at least remember what you have learned the whole semester. Start your day early, especially when you are feeling fresh, so you would have more time to revise and to rest later. But if you are not a morning person, studying at night when everyone else is asleep works well too. You don't necessarily have to follow everyone else's schedule, just follow your own with what you are most comfortable with!

2) Ask for tips from lecturers and friends

Many misconceptions that people have about asking tips from lecturers means you are asking them for answers to your final examination. Asking tips is to ask for advice on how you can study the subject better. If you recognize your weakness in a certain chapter, try to ask your lecturer on what you can do to improve your comprehension of the matter. I am sure they are more than happy to help you! Don't straight ask for WHAT questions are coming out in the final exam, ask instead HOW can you study better. Make sure to prepare yourself before asking. Do some research on the topic first. Then proceed with the question, "I have studied this particular chapter. I am having a hard time to understand it. Do you mind explaining it to me?" The same thing goes when asking a favour from your friends as well. 

3) Organize a study group with your friends

For some of us, we study better when we are in a group of friends. When you conduct a study group, you can exchange tips and notes with your friends. This helps, but what can you do when your friends miles away from you? The tip is to conduct a study group through Skype/Zoom/Google Meet. Share your study tips and notes from the platform given. You guys may be far apart when that doesn't mean you can't share your knowledge among each other! Studying with friends help to motivate you as well, so make sure to plan ahead on when to conduct the study group. 

4) Revision!

Isn't this the most basic rule of all? You can't possibly ace your examination without your revision. It's important! Revise all the chapters you have learned. Write them down in pretty, neat and organize notes so you can remember them well. Watch videos on Youtube for you to understand better a certain topic. Utilize Google Drive! It's the perfect place for you to store all your notes and slides in one place. Share them with your friends as well. Who knows they might share theirs too? 

5) Be in a comfortable environment

It's totally understandable why most of us prefer to be at the university instead of our own home right now. It can be uncomfortable, at times noisy, and sometimes your family barely understand your struggles as a student. I am sure everyone is going through the same thing (Well, if you don't, you have no idea how lucky you are!) So this goes hand in hand with time management. When finding and making time for your revision, make sure to consider well if the time chosen has a suitable environment for you to study. Many people prefer to study at night because it's quiet and no one is around to interrupt your study session. Also, if you are used to studying on your bed, try to switch to a different place if you have one. Don't stick to one place only, it will make you feel less productive. Make sure to be physically prepared as well. This means to not straight study when you are out of bed. Give yourself time to freshen up by taking a shower and drinking a cup of tea or coffee, then only you can start your revision. Good luck!