The Observer, December 7, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 13
Take final exams with enough sleep
To the Editor:
As the instructor for a relatively large class for predominantly first-year students, I am often asked the same question this time of year: "How best shall I prepare for the final exam?"
I have two pieces of advice:
First, when studying, ask yourself, "What are the main concepts that I need to understand and to be able to apply?" Most instructors have designed the course to emphasize a relatively small number of main concepts. I recommend that you study so as to master the main concepts first. Study these before you spend time studying anything else.
Second, get enough sleep. I believe that like myself, most instructors will design their final exam so as to determine if you can apply the main concepts within a variety of scenarios, both familiar and unfamiliar. This kind of analysis requires higher level mental functions. In other words, we will ask you to think. This simply cannot be done well when you are sleepy.
Behavioral and cognitive research shows conclusively that student performance on exams drops dramatically when the students are sleep-deprived. This is true no matter how emotionally invested the students are for the task. Furthermore, sleepy students always underestimate the negative effect of being sleepy. In other words, not only are you sleepy and slow, you are sleepier and slower than you think.
So do not allow yourself to be tempted by any sort of false calculus wherein you deprive yourself of sleep so as to cram for an exam. Decide here and now that no matter what else you do, you will enter each final exam having enjoyed a full night of rest the night before.
That's my advice.
Corbin Covault
Physics 121 instructor
