Although final exams are rarely the highlight of anyone’s school year and often evoke memories of late-night cramming and stressing, they are an unavoidable part of mid-January. Students and teachers share their ideas on how to make studying for finals both more effective and more pleasant.

Timing is important. While most students start reviewing for finals anywhere from two weeks in advance to the night before the exam, teachers recommend studying further in advance.

“Study early and often,” said chemistry teacher Mr. Rob Peterson. “Start early, a half an hour at a time.”

Study methods are important, although there is no one tool which is perfect for everybody.

“It depends on the student, but it’s all got to be self-generated,” said Mr. Peterson. “Now with the ease of sharing, people tend to look at what someone else did and equate that with doing it themselves. There’s a difference between collaborating and studying off someone else’s study guide.”

With that being said, students have their own favorite ways to review.

“I’d say my most important method of studying is using Quizlet and making my own quizzes,” said sophomore John O’Neill. “I try to use multiple choice questions to make it easier for me.”

“I follow all the teachers’ study guides, and I like to write everything down because I think I remember it better that way,” said sophomore Gabby Gozdecki.

While some students benefit from studying with a group of friends, others prefer to review alone.

“I like to study in a quiet place in my house with a table,” said Gozdecki. “I feel like I do it better on my own. I get distracted with other people.”

With so much time devoted to studying for finals, it is important to also do fun stress-reducing activities.

“I work out and drink some Starbucks,” said O’Neill.

According to freshman Camille Martinez, listening to music sometimes helps.

Finals can cause anxiety, but Mr. Peterson reminds students that stressing will not change the exam, so it is best to study and go into finals with confidence.

“Take the test; don’t let the test take you,” said Mr. Peterson.