Right about now you may be experiencing some of the pressure of finishing the your class strong. You are in the midst of your final week in your course(s) and we want to encourage you to prepare well for finals week.

We’ve put together three tips to help you prepare for your finals. Okay, you may be a great test-taker but I would encourage you to still read them. You may learn something new! This may be especially true if this is your first go-around with the online courses.

Tip #1: Strategy Matters: Identify the exam type.

Make the best of your study time by strategically approaching the test type you're taking (multiple choice, short-answer, or essay exam). CollegeAtlas and UC Berkeley have extensive resources on how to study for each type of exam. Take a peek.

Tip#2: Community Matters: Create a community.

One of the myths surrounding online education is the lack of a sense of community. We live in the age of technology, and as an online student you have the power of technology to build a community, why not start with a virtual study group? A great resource in helping you establish one is your professor. Let your professor know you want to be part of a study group for the final in case any other students are also interested. Oregon State University has a great resource on how to conduct a successful study group. Their tips include having deliverable goals, quizzing each other, and reviewing.

Tip#3: Place Matters: Create an optimal test area.

We all have lives that revolve around family, friends, work, and school. Limiting the amount of distraction is key when thinking about our testing performance. Make sure you create a space where you will be able to thrive and your focus will be unhindered. If you are a morning person, for example, plan your exams for the the morning. If you focus and recall information better at night, then schedule your time for the exam at night. Cengage has more tips on how to focus during exams.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” - Luke 14:28

A couple of additional resources for you:
Night(s) of the Living Dead: How to Keep Finals Week From Turning You Into a Zombie
Read It. Say It. Say It Again: The key to remembering any of that reading you're doing for class is Read, Recite, Review.

Reference:
Test Preparation and Studying - Oregon State University
Test Taking and Test Preparation - CollegeAtlas.org
Test Taking - UC Berkeley
Tips for Taking Online Exams - Cengage