Midterm & Final Exams

The Academic Success Center is offering seminars to help students prepare for final examinations. 

Students learn differently, and it is safe to say that they study differently, too. Research over the years has identified a handful of well-founded techniques that will not only help students to remember the content/information for exam day, but also help them to retain the information learned throughout the semester for years to come.

1. Make a plan for when to study for each course...avoid ineffective, last-minute cramming.
2. Make a plan of what to study for each course...teachers often give final exam study guides.
3. Break study sessions for each exam into chunks
4. Spend most of the study time preparing and a little time reviewing.
5. Study actively instead of passively (rewrite notes in a different organization system instead of re-reading notes and chapters).
6. Plan to concentrate for reasonable periods of time (2-3 hours) with breaks.
7. Work on more than one subject rather than a single subject over the course of an evening.
8. Study difficult subjects or subjects with low interest first while you are still fresh.
9. Vary your study locations to help the brain connect with information.
10. Avoid distractions (ahem...cell phone, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).
11. Be aware of information that you don't understand so that you can ask your teacher for clarification before exam day.
12. Review study materials right before the exam.
13. On exam day, look over the whole exam first and jot down notes to relieve stress.
14. On exam day, divide up the exam mentally by the clock to stay on task.
15. Lastly, review your work and make sure that you have the best answers, don't concern yourself with when other students finish the exam.

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer for Exams Success (a short prayer for passing an exam)

Father,

I pray that you would help me pass this exam. Thank you for your guidance in leading me to this study and for sustaining me as I have worked for this qualification. I ask now that your spirit would lead me. Come sharpen my thinking and help me to excel in this test of my learning and understanding. May I be able to recall everything I need from my studies and answer each question well.

Amen.

Prayer Before Exam (a prayer for guidance and inspiration for an upcoming exam test)

Father,

Be with me as I take this exam.
Keep my mind alert and my memory sharp.
Calm my nerves and help me concentrate.
I know that you walk with me,
Guiding my path and inspiring my heart.
I pray that I would feel you with me,
And that your friendship would soften the pressure I feel.
I pray that I would pass this exam and go on to new things with you.
Thank you for your peace and your love in my life.
Thank you for your kindness and care for me.

Amen.

Prayer for Exam Anxiety (a prayer for God's peace to come)

Heavenly Father,

Only your peace can sustain me through the anxiety and stresses of exam nerves. Your peace surpasses all understanding. I ask for this gift and choose to lean upon you at this time.
Lord, come and remind me of your unfailing love.
Remind me that you hold me safe, you understand me, and you cherish me.
I lay down my fears before you.
I leave them at the foot of the cross, for you have overcome the world.
I choose to give you all my concerns, worries and fears of failure.
I trust that your loving hand will hold me through these exams and lead into a bright future.

Amen.

Short Prayer After Exam

Lord God,
Thank you for this opportunity to learn new skills and stretch my understanding.
Thank you for guiding me through this time of study into the final exams.
I lay before you all the hopes and fears I have about the outcome.
May you place a peace within me now as I rest and await the results.
Thank you that I am safely held in your love.
Thank you that whatever happens in the future I will live in your goodness and walk with you always.

Amen.

Read more at Living Prayers.

Curated by Mr. Timothy Hart, Campus Minister & Religious Studies Teacher

• How to practice centering prayer, to pray and be with God
  • A short "intro" and "how to" article from 
• Education and outreach about centering prayer
  • Resources from Contemplative Outreach
• Father Thomas Keating's book, Intimacy with God
  • An introduction to centering prayer