With teachers assigning at least twenty-five review problems toward the end of every school term, students begin to feel the pressure of approaching exams. Whether it is finals or the MCA’s, each student will prepare differently. “I’ll take the stuff I don’t feel comfortable with and look at it for 20-30 minutes [until I do],” says 10th grader Matt Moskal. “Then I’ll do something completely different, and then I’ll go back to it and re-learn what I’ve forgotten.” For example, Moskal would take his math notes from the chapter, read over the parts that he is not so sure of, then switch over to history, and then back to math. By interchanging the subjects that Moskal is reviewing, he allows the first subject to be absorbed whilst focusing on the second, then goes back and tests what he remembers.

However, what works for one student may not work for others. Abby Linde, another a 10th grader, finds that she “just look[s] over [her] notes.” With this, Abby may focus on smaller parts of her subjects each day – allowing for better memorization.

One of the best ways to prepare, according to Graham Snowdon, deputy editor of The Guardian Weekly, is to “Plan Your Work.” In order to make it through the piles of notes and readings, a student should attempt to create a schedule for themselves. So even with two weeks to spare, students will be able to manage the extreme work load set before them.

There are a handful of students who don’t study until three days before any given test, despite the countdown going in their planners, but cramming is never the answer. Exam time is especially trying and losing sleep just one or two nights can keep students from being fully functional. As Moskal explains, “don’t cram, because there is a lot of stuff you need to know in order to pass.”

Since the end of the year is drawing nearer, and getting exams closer, just remember: studying can be a helping hand. Whether from notes or a chapter of reading, study materials are always there to help students prepare.