By: Matthew Vibbert

As the school year nears an end, final exams come closer, and those exams bring with them end of the school year stress and pressure. The finals mark an important time in the marking period, as it’s the largest test you’ll take in a specific subject, and it has an impact on your grade depending on whether you fail or pass it. Each year, students feel a little overwhelmed preparing for the big tests, so The Squire asked senior William Schwanke about how he prepares for his finals.

The Squire: How do you prepare for finals?

William Schwanke: I go over my materials all from the class over time as the end of the year rolls around.

TS: How soon do you begin preparing for finals?

WS: Usually, when spring starts to hit, I start refreshing my memory on material I learned towards the beginning of the year.

TS: What do you feel is a good strategy for preparing for finals?

WS: Studying like crazy, but not too much that you are overwhelmed.

TS: How do you feel about studying for finals? Is it a need?

WS: Studying material you haven not used in a while is a need, but material more recently may not need nearly as much attention.

TS: What is some advice you would give to people who want to prepare for finals?

WS: Stay calm; in retrospect, it is just another test.

TS: How many times do you feel people should study before their finals?

WS: They should study steadily over the course of a couple months prior.

TS: What class has one of the hardest finals to you?

WS: History finals are the worst, in my opinion.

TS: What are some classes you would recommend people to study more for?

WS: History and English are two I would study a little extra for.

There are many different ways you can study for your finals, such as asking teachers for help, using different online resources, studying from your textbook, or using resources that your teacher has given to you. You can make note cards, study your notes, go over old tests and worksheets, or study the review packet. There are also plenty of online resources for any subject you want to study, though you do want to make sure that the online study sources are trustworthy, contain the right answers, and have questions that similar to what could be on the exam.

Therefore, as the year is coming closer to an end and summer is closer than ever, some students tend to not study ahead of time for them. However, it is important to remember to take the right amount of time to study and prepare yourself for your finals. Good luck, students!