Final Jitters

[ShinwooKim_3E]

Get a good night's rest the day before! For the longest time I personally would ignore this, but it helps you focus and ease your anxiety during tests!

[IshanModiDis2L]

I think practice calms my nerves down but breaks definitely are essential too.

[almost_ethan]

I am also very nervous--which isn't an abnormal feeling prior to an exam. I wonder how many questions are going to be on the exam and if they are going to resemble the midterm questions...anyways I'm just trying to study as much as I can before the final.

[Moura Girgis 1F]

Since the final is cumulative, it might help to review any previous lecture notes from this quarter or watch the lectures themselves.

[Kendall_Dewey_2D]

Taking deep breaths and getting exercise during study breaks are my go-to tips!

[Katie Phan 1K]

Don't psych yourself out! Study as best as you can and whatever happens, happens! If you've done all that you can do then just have confidence in the fact that you actively prepared yourself for the test.

[Sheryl Ocampo 1D]

lots of practice problems and understanding the concepts well should help

[Renny_kim_2G]

As Dr. Lavelle said in his final review, don't use your energy to stress. We can use that time and energy to review another concept perhaps. Get some rest and make sure you are on a consistent sleeping pattern.

[AJForte-2C]

meditation and positive affirmations always help me get my nerves under control in the minutes leading up to a test.

[Raashi Chaudhari 3B]

To who ever is reading this, you made it through the whole quarter! You have worked so hard and all the practice problems and hours of work that you've put into this class will pay off. Stay positive, and trust yourself that you know what you are doing!! Best of luck y'all.

[Jade Lastra 3B]

I get ready bad anxiety just before a final so before it happens I try to have some kind of routine to keep my mind occupied. Since this final is earlier in the day I made some coffee because the routine is so calming, though I don't know why exactly. Making any kind of food or snack helps, but I get a really nervous stomach before any test so I just end up making something for my siblings instead.

[Mia Meza]

This is just a suggestion but I started taking vitamins that say they can help with stress levels, so maybe you can look into that? but taking a shower while listening to music before a test helps.

[Mia Meza]

I also struggle with really bad anxiety to the point my hands will tremble and I will go blank on tests. I remind myself that I know the information and to just do the best with what I can remember, not to stay stuck on one problem because it takes away from the ones you actually know. Maybe write yourself a sticky note saying "breathe you got this"

[Mia Meza]

Also! I make sure I don't drink caffeine before my test because I am already amped up with nerves so I do not like to drink any energy drinks or coffee the day of my test.

[Andrew Dao 3C]

Just take some very deep breaths, it's going to be fine. You get in there and take the test, once it's over you will feel a giant weight off your shoulders.

[Samin Kabir]

For me, I watch a lot of SNL or something funny ig right before the test so I don't worry about it that much. That always calms me down.

[Jacob Schwarz-Discussion 3I]

Don't know how you guys felt about it but just wanna let you know that I hope y'all did good on it and there is nothing we can do now so just wanted to say I love you all!!

[Callan Howard]

I know this is a little late, but I used a stress ball when I took the final! I found it very helpful in subsiding that anxious fizzy exam energy.

[305405193]

Start in advance! I cannot say how many times I did not give myself enough time to study a whole quarter's worth of material and also do not forget to take care of yourself is is very necessary in order to maintain your body and your brain in a good state to take the final.

[John_Tran_3J]

After studying for along period of time (assuming that your final is an hour), you should rest ur body up to 20 minutes prior to taking the exam so your body can maintainability a recharge while not completely falling asleep.

[Nancy Yao]

Do some massage :)

[Nina Fukui 2J]

I take a long bath and drink some warm tea :)))

[AlyssaMaynard1C]

Does anyone know how to calm down your anxieties before you take this final? Since having test anxiety can be very distracting while you're trying to study or even while you're taking the test itself. Open to any tips:)

I hope these strategies helped and now that the final is over, remember you did your best and a test grade doesn't measure your worth!

[Zoe Staggs 3B]

Personally, it helps to meditate or practice visualization a couple of hours before the exam, opposed to cramming up until test.

[Agustina Santa Cruz 2F]

Congrats to everyone for completing this course! You should be very proud of yourselves given the circumstances! Don't be too hard on yourselves, it's immensely hard to learn from home so cut yourself some slack & give yourself some credit!

[Susanna Givan 2B]

I'm sure you guys all did great and I'm looking forward to 14B with you all!

[205323697]

This may sound bad but sometimes you have to fake it till you make it in order to become it. So, by physically telling yourself out-loud that you know the content and that you're going to do good, you will actually do good.

[805377003]

Try to break up your studying so you aren't overwhelmed the day before.

[keely_bales_1f]

I am super worried for finals this quarter because chemistry is a lot more complex this quarter (thermochemistry is the death of me!). However, power naps and watching comedic relief shows on Netflix or Hulu help relieve some anxiety.

[Megan ODonnell 3F]

I just try to do as many practice problems and attend as many review sessions as I can before the test. And then give me enough time in the morning to wakeup and eat my breakfast so that I have enough energy to take it!

[Sachi Sengupta 2C]

I try to not do much studying an hour before the exam because that generally just increases my anxiety even more.

[Kaleb Tuliau 3E]

The anxiety tends to mess up my mental and performance so I completely understand where you're coming from

[Anvy 1G]

Finals suck let's just put that out there. Petition to cancel all finals and just take our word for it. No, but yeah we will all do fine half points on literally everything will give us much more than a C- to pass which isn't a bad thing in the long run.

[AlyssaMaynard1C]

Does anyone know how to calm down your anxieties before you take this final? Since having test anxiety can be very distracting while you're trying to study or even while you're taking the test itself. Open to any tips:)

During tests I make sure to have a hot tea or matcha I can sip on because it helps calm my mind and I'm able to think clear. This also helps when rushing on a test just to get it over with, it forces me to slow down and take my time.

[Edwin Liang 1I]

To calm my anxiety, I use a stress ball and listen to music. Music helps calm me down, and a stress ball is used if I want to take my rage out on something, but being safe at the same time.

[Sheryl Ocampo 1D]

Forcing myself to do tons of practice problems makes me more confident the day of the exam

[Sam_Marasigan_3D]

I try to work on problems that I am confident in answering first. By doing this, I will have more time and confidence to answer the questions I am unsure about. This truly helps me calm down my nerves.

[AHUNT_1A]

I like to sit outdoors either in my yard at the park or the beach and just reflect not think about anything to stressful and just relax a couple of days before a major final, exam, or quiz. It is really relaxing and soothing even listening to waves.

[Sheryl Ocampo 1D]

A couple of deep breaths and plenty of practice problems!

[nayha a 1E]

I think one thing is to try not to cram last minute. By this I mean like 5-10 minutes before the test, just breathe. You should know the material by then and the way I see it, if you don't know it yet, I doubt you'll learn it in that time. Just relax and focus on what you do know.

[Anvy 1G]

Not really test anxiety more like FML lets finish this and get it all over with because i want my week's break from it all, JUST ME WORK AND NOTHING ELSE.

[George Hernandez 3I]

Deep breaths. As long as you know you've done your best within the quarter to learn the material, you should be able to achieve peace of mind before, during, and after the exam.

[Brenda Silva 1B]

Try to do as many practice problems as you can and focus on the topics you are struggling most with. This would allow you to go into the final exam feeling more confident.

[Adrienne Yuh 2B]

I like to eat food while studying for the final! Reading over the textbook is helpful.

[Jonathan3B]

I think preparation is the best way to not feel nervous. How nervous can you be when you taking a test on material you studies the past couple of weeks for... well maybe it wont eliminate the jitters but it will secure you a good grade on the exam.

[Jasmine Ho 3I]

Make sure you are preparing far in advance! The worst thing before an exam is feeling like you haven't studied enough, and that almost always makes me perform worse.

[Chesca Legaspi 2E]

Honestly just attend as many UA sessions as you can and start doing textbook problems ahead of time so you have a lot of time to go over the material that you're struggling with. At least that's definitely what I'm planning on doing!

[lauren_tran_1L]

I think reviewing the old material and doing the new practice problems will help with confidence as well as going to office hours!

[Kathrine_Samia_1A]

Is the Chem 14B final cumulative or not?

[Kathrine_Samia_1A]

I am so nervous for the final. I need someone is down to study with :/

[Francesca_Borchardt_2D]

I do a lot of practice problems and go over each outline to make sure I understand everything and I am comfortable. On the day of the final, I try not to overthink and stress out, I relax until I have to take the final. I go to the final a little early to make sure everything is set up.

[Anvy 1G]

Go for a drive to calm down a bit it defenitely helped me when i had any jiitters about anything in life and if that is not an option drink some water or any beverage with sugar in it to calm the nerves. After all jitters makes it worse the actual act will be ok.

[BKoh_2E]

I always make sure to get enough sleep two nights before the exam. Usually I plan my studying so that I do not need to cram the information the day before the test. Right before the exam, I wash my face with cold water and take a nice deep breath.

[Julianna Shimabukuro 1D]

I get testing anxiety pretty much every test, but I agree that you shouldn't study right up to the last few minutes before the exam. You want to be in the right mindset, and if you're stressing yourself before the exam, you won't be in the clearest mindset when you open it and start trying to recall the information. Just do something you love the day of the test whether it be playing with your pets, watching your favorite show, listening to music, yoga, anything. Just do your best and believe in yourself!

[Joanne Yuh 3I]

I try to get plenty of sleep the night before the exam because I think it's important to have a clear mind and sleeping enough instead of cramming last minute.

[Eric Ngo 1F]

I personally have quite a lot of final jitters too, but sleeping well the night before always seems to help.

[Tatyana Bonnet 2H]

Before each exam I like to lay down and listen to some music or classical music that I like to calm myself down before the test and review the key concepts over one more time. Try to focus on what you struggled with and new material because for the last final I spent too much time reviewing old content I knew well and didn't spend enough time on what I needed to.

[Kathrine_Samia_1A]

Make sure to start studying a lot in advance so that you have time to do all the practice problems! In my experience, just reading the textbook and doing a few problems isn't enough to really solidify what I've learned, but once I do a ton of practice problems, I 'll know exactly what to do and where to start when I see any problem and feel confident on the assessment. Also, I like to keep a note document of all the common mistakes I make when doing practice problems, then go over it right before tests, so I will be confident that I can avoid my common errors.

This is something that I do all the time too

[Kathrine_Samia_1A]

I personally have quite a lot of final jitters too, but sleeping well the night before always seems to help.

I also feel the same way when I'm cramming everything, but once the exam starts I feel better right away

[Kathrine_Samia_1A]

I try not to drink coffee as well the day before the exam and the day of the exam since it makes me more anxious haha

[Kathrine_Samia_1A]

I try to get plenty of sleep the night before the exam because I think it's important to have a clear mind and sleeping enough instead of cramming last minute.

Good one!

[Sofia Azmat 1I]

Personally, I've learned to not study up until the very last second because it's important to give yourself a break beforehand and a good night's rest.

[Mariah Disc 2C]

Don't study right up until the test it will just stress you out!

[Sable Summerfield]

What is the best way to study for the final? Is it best to do the homework problems or online questions? Is the outline for the final 100% indicative of what is on the test?

[305405193]

Do you any of you guys know where to find any last minute extra help before the final this Sunday?

[Meghan Krushena 2E]

I know this is not chemistry related, but its so interesting that this post was originally from 2019 when finals jitters meant having enough pencils or forgetting a sweatshirt as compared to Zoom universities jitters of making sure your computer is charged and your zoom/respondus is updated

[Jack Kettering 3D]

I do a ton of practice problems and take deep breaths and just believe in myself

[Chesca Legaspi 2E]

Do you any of you guys know where to find any last minute extra help before the final this Sunday?

Definitely go to Office Hours and the UA review sessions! There's multiple every day leading up to the final and they honestly help a ton in understanding the material.

[Chesca Legaspi 2E]

What is the best way to study for the final? Is it best to do the homework problems or online questions? Is the outline for the final 100% indicative of what is on the test?

I would say the best way to study for the final is to do the textbook problems assigned on each outline. Dr. Lavelle usually pulls questions directly from the textbook ones assigned so I'd say they're the best type of practice for what we'll actually see on Sunday.

[alexandralopez 3F]

I try and give myself at least an hour before the exam to just relax and not focus on chemistry which can help me a lot when it comes to overthinking the exam

[Serena Song 1A]

I try do do as many practice problems (both homework and textbook problems) as I can and get a good night of sleep beforehand. For some reason, I find eating a piece being a test helpful? It helps me calm down.

[Vanessa Perez]

just remember how far along we are. This is the final stretch. It can be very stressful but just know that you are doing your best!!!

[Brian Acevedo 2E]

This might be a bit hard to swallow at first, but try changing how you approach the exam perception-wise. A lot of academic-related anxiety in my experience typically stems from unrealistic expectations for oneself. Try approaching the final exam as a chance to show what you do know rather then an event during which what you don't know gets "exposed". Also, be proud of yourself regardless of the outcome because the class was challenging but you got through it. Hope this helps and good luck!

[almost_ethan]

I'm getting very nervous as the Final approaches, and I'm currently wondering why he chose to do the Final on a SUNDAY--very sad.

[905579227]

So I am offically the dumbest person alive and did not do any of my chemistry community questions this whole quarter because I completely forgot, I thought it was just a last quarter thing but um no so what happens when you retake a class and how do you sign up for it, please help

[Valerie Tran 2B]

Does anyone know how to calm down your anxieties before you take this final? Since having test anxiety can be very distracting while you're trying to study or even while you're taking the test itself. Open to any tips:)

Does anyone just zone out during the exam or get stuck in a brain fog and just stare at a question forever? How do you try to keep going or tell your brain to wake up and focus. I always do this and lose at least 20 minutes of work time.

[Valerie Tran 2B]

So I am offically the dumbest person alive and did not do any of my chemistry community questions this whole quarter because I completely forgot, I thought it was just a last quarter thing but um no so what happens when you retake a class and how do you sign up for it, please help

Well you could always try to make up all 50 posts by Sunday. If not having the needed 50 points will result in a C- or below or NP, then I think that you can just retake the class by signing up for it again like a normal class. You could always look it up or email Professor Lavelle.

[Sarah Huh 1K]

Does anyone know how to calm down your anxieties before you take this final? Since having test anxiety can be very distracting while you're trying to study or even while you're taking the test itself. Open to any tips:)

Does anyone just zone out during the exam or get stuck in a brain fog and just stare at a question forever? How do you try to keep going or tell your brain to wake up and focus. I always do this and lose at least 20 minutes of work time.

I do this all the time too :(

[Sarah Huh 1K]

I'm getting very nervous as the Final approaches, and I'm currently wondering why he chose to do the Final on a SUNDAY--very sad.

yea, and on daylight savings too omg

[RylanPurificacion 3J]

Does anyone know how to calm down your anxieties before you take this final? Since having test anxiety can be very distracting while you're trying to study or even while you're taking the test itself. Open to any tips:)

Does anyone just zone out during the exam or get stuck in a brain fog and just stare at a question forever? How do you try to keep going or tell your brain to wake up and focus. I always do this and lose at least 20 minutes of work time.

I find it useful to try and just skip problems if I'm in a brain lock to see if there's others I can do. I find it useful to keep myself focused, especially since it's usually not ordered by difficulty. Temporarily leaving problems that I know I'll have more difficulty with for later really helps.

[Mari Williams 1K]

Cramming the night before a test always makes me to anxious to sleep, so make sure you have an hour or two to yourself before you go to bed! I used to have calc nightmares before my exams in high school because I'd go to bed thinking about the test.

[Katelyn_Ortega_1D]

My anxiety can get really bad for the exams too, I start to focus more on calming myself down than the questions which waste time. One thing that helps me is putting a ring on my finger that I can play with while reading the questions. It sounds silly but keeping my hands busy while reading the questions really helps me get in the zone of the test and feel more calm.

[Aimee Alvarado 3J]

I usually try to relax and do my usual routine. I wouldn't really do problems before my exam because I feel like that would mess me up more, but I would just check my notes quickly. Also, listening to music or again doing something you would normally do in the day calms me down a lot.

[Anusha Chaudhary 1J]

I try to stop studying around 6 the night before an exam because I know if I don't sleep/ think about it too much before I'm gonna have extreme anxiety during the test and won't be able to do well. Try to spend some time tonight doing something you like to do. Exercising, playing video games/watching tv, and doing skin care are my personal favorites!

[Navdha Sharma 3J]

just take deep breaths and close your eyes to shut out the world. it really helps a lot!

[Sid Panda 3A]

Cliche, but this tip really helps me calm down. Don't think of the final grade that you are going to get on the test. Don't even think about how questions you need to get right to get a good grade. Let go of those tensions during the test, and you will instantly do your best!

[305614361]

What I usually recommend before finals is just to try and calm down don't try to overstudy and just have hope that you have a good recollection of the topics taught in the class

[Pratika Nagpal]

every time I feel myself getting stressed, it helps to take a beat, close your eyes for a few seconds and breathe deeply.

[Yun Su Choi 3G]

If you have the time, try to make a practice quiz for yourself, one where you put away all your notes, study guides, cheat sheets. Just solving problems on a blank piece of paper can let you know if you're ready or not depending on how confidently you can solve certain problems vs blanking out on others.

[JasmineReyes-2K]

I try my best to calm my anxiety by drinking tea but I believe your mentality going into the exam is what matters MOST. Go into the exam saying that you will do well!, tell yourself that you are intelligent and worthy to be there !

[905740390]

Does anyone know how to calm down your anxieties before you take this final? Since having test anxiety can be very distracting while you're trying to study or even while you're taking the test itself. Open to any tips:)

When I try to calm down my anxieties before the final, I usually try to breath in and out at a slow pace. I also recommend eating a good meal and drinking water before your test.

[RJ Lopez 2l]

I used to have the same problem. To be honest, I am not the greatest test taker, but I do recommend devoting 1 to 2 hours a day reviewing chemistry material. Studying before a big exam can be exhausting, but if you constantly review content throughout the quarter you will be more than prepare. There is plenty of material listed on the syllabus that can help with preparation. As for taking the test, do not feel rushed! A lot of students feel anxious due to the time limit on these exams. It may be a good idea to bring a watch or timer to the exam so you can set your pace. That all I have. Wish you the best of luck!

[Katie Shi 1F]

One thing that helps me is just guaranteeing I get a good night's sleep and having a good breakfast in the morning. I feel like while test-taking it's nice to know that you are at 100% and did the best preparation with the things you are able to control!

[Harrington Bubb3A]

One tip I have is to not talk about the material and what you do and don't know right before the test. You're not going to learn anything in just five minutes but you can psych yourself out.

Totally agree. If I need to study right before the test than something went wrong a longggg time ago and I did not prepare well.

[Katherine Li 1A]

For me, reviewing notes and reminding myself that I know all the material helps. It also helps a lot of people to have some kind of calming routine or motion. For example, try drawing something on your hand when you're calm; then, right before a test, draw that and try to get yourself back into the same relaxed mindset.

[Holland Smith 3C]

I would also recommend making a small study group to work with throughout the quarter! I find that when I collaborate with other people, it helps me further master the material I have a good (but not necessarily great) understanding of because it forces you to teach the topic to someone else and really break down the processes involved. It is also great because it allows your peers to do the same, getting you a full understanding of new materials that were you might have been struggling with. Ultimately, it will help everyone involved learn new material and master previously understood topics

Hope this Helps!

[Rebekah Jung 1C]

Hi! In order to be the least anxious the day of the test I try to prepare way in advanced. I recommend studying and understanding the material the best you can so that by the time you take the test you know you did everything you possibly could. That way, you have no regrets or "what ifs" in mind after taking the exam because you know you did your best.

[Wilson Zheng 1L]

I would say that studying with friends to get a solid foundation of ALL the knowledge is what makes me slightly less anxious during a test! I also enjoy listening to my fair share of lofi during the studying phase!

[Joseph Ettipio]

Sleep is so important. Don't get in a situation where you're cramming everything just a few days before the test. You'll end up wasting your own time since cramming the material will leave you in no state to take a final, physically or mentally.

[Abigail Tran 14a]

I think that in order to succeed on your finals, it is important to get enough sleep. Even if you study for hours on end, chances are you will not do well if you are running on too little sleep. I think that you should divide up the material to study in chunks every day before the final so that you do not have to cram last minute and sacrifice your sleep. In addition, I think it is also important to take care of your health overall so also make sure to eat and drink enough to keep your body healthy in this stressful time. Good luck!!