I still distinctly remember my first big final. It was in eighth grade and I had no idea what I was doing. I sat at my desk for nearly half an hour just flipping through the pages of things I was meant to have memorized. Now, I have much better study management strategies, but that helplessness is still stuck in my memories.

There is no perfect method of studying. None of these tips are a remedy. Different classes, materials and students will require different approaches. But there are some general ways to improve your study habits.

First, allocate time to study intentionally. Especially for finals, try not to let studying be regulated to the in-between times. This doesn’t mean you should spend all your time studying. Breaks can help your brain stay focused and fresh.

Studying also doesn’t need to be a lonely activity, even if you prefer to study alone. While group study sessions are an obvious way to collaborate, other methods can help studying feel like a communal effort. One of my favorite things is to share a Google Doc with some friends to compile study materials. A group chat to collaborate on can also help. 

Choosing the right study resources to spend your time on is also important. I personally have a few methods I recommend. To begin, always look for whatever your teacher provides. Sometimes that’s a lot, from study guides to practice tests, but sometimes it is only a vague few bullet points. Either way, you don’t want to waste your time studying things you don’t need to, so use whatever resources you have to inform your next steps. 

Beyond this, I have two online resources I love. First, Khan Academy. Khan Academy is a free tool and includes everything you need to study. They have videos, articles and quizzes for subjects from Algebra I to AP Biology. I always just search for whatever class I am looking to study for followed by Khan Academy to find the home page of that course, which then has all sorts of different modules and units. 

Secondly, I am a huge fan of Quizlet (or similar software) for language and history classes. The flashcard format is great for memorization. Finally, you can always ask your teacher for extra resources they recommend. 

Regardless of which resources you love, this finals season remember to take deep breath and take some you-time in the middle of all that hard work. No matter how hard you study, you won’t do great if you go into tests exhausted. Take your time, do your best and remember it is all just high school.