Finals week is less about studying harder and more about not dropping anything. Use this checklist to stay organized from two weeks out to your last exam.
Two weeks before
- Write down every exam: date, time, room, and what it covers.
- List every paper and project still due, with dates.
- Check your grades so you know which classes need the most time.
- Ask teachers or TAs about review sessions and practice exams.
One week before
- Make a day-by-day study plan. Hardest or earliest exam first.
- Break each subject into small study tasks, like "chapter 5 practice set."
- Book a quiet study spot for your longest sessions.
- Stock up on easy food and water so you're not losing time.
During finals week
- Study in focused rounds with breaks. See the Pomodoro method.
- Sleep at least 7 hours. Memory needs sleep to stick.
- Move a little every day, even a 10-minute walk.
- Check your list every morning so nothing surprises you.
The night before each exam
- Review, don't cram new material.
- Pack what you need: ID, pencils, calculator, charger.
- Confirm the time and room.
- Go to bed.
After each exam
Check it off and move on. Don't re-take the exam in your head.
Turn the checklist into progress
Put your finals tasks in lum9a. Your Canvas assignments are already there, your next exam shows at the top with a countdown, and every study task you check off earns XP and grows your world. During the hardest week of the semester, watching something grow helps.