Final Exams Are Coming, Are You Ready?

7 last minute tips for final exam success.

While you might want to stick your head in the sand and pretend this isn’t happening, final exams are coming. Whether you are ready or not. I’m going to strongly suggest that you do not actually stick your head in the sand, as it is a highly ineffective study plan. It may feel like finals are so close that you are nearly out of time to do anything meaningful to improve your scores. But that is not the case! You can use any of the following tips, starting today, to help you reach success on your final exams.

1. Make a super detailed schedule

Now is the time to get as organized as humanly possible. Start by making a list of all the things you must get done before final exams. Classes to finish reading for? Outlines to complete? Practice questions to do? Write it all down. Next, whip out the calendar and fill in every waking hour. Seriously. Be realistic about how much time you have, but you will need to stretch yourself. It is time to leave it all on the court. Also, make sure to be extremely protective and selfish with your time from now until finals. Don’t be afraid to say “no” or “not right now” to social requests.

2. Stock up on essentials

While you’re making lists, there is one more you should make: a grocery list! You are in for many long days and late nights over the next few weeks, and the last thing you want to be is hungry. Stock up on all the snacks and meal supplies you need to get you through to the end. Also, make sure you pick up a carrot or something else resembling a vegetable. Seriously, if you eat nothing but terrible, sugary, processed crap, you are going to be more exhausted and cranky.

3. Block off time to prep your materials the day before the test

Be sure to block off some time the day before each exam to get your materials and supplies organized. Make a list of everything you’ll need to bring with you to the exam. Gather all of the items on your list in one place so that you can easily and mindlessly grab them the next morning. Pro tip: don’t forget your laptop charger.

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4. Finish your outlines

Commit to finishing your outlines. Note, I said finish. Not perfect. Not best outline of all time. Just finish. This is an important point. I promise you it doesn’t matter if you use 12 or 14 pt font, Arial or Cambria, or double or single space your outline. However, these are real things that I have talked to real students about in the days and even hours before their exams. When you are stressed out, it can be easy to fixate on the little details because you can control them. Don’t fall into this trap. It is far more important that your outline is a usable document that accurately reflects your knowledge of a subject, than it be an actual work of art.

5. Practice questions, all day every day

You must, must, must do practice questions. If you have ever read anything I have written, you know I think practice questions are the most important thing in the world. But you are now down to the wire, and they are more important than ever. Make sure you know the format of your final exam (i.e., essay, short answer, multiple choice) so that you can find practice questions similar to those you will face on test day. Be sure to get your hands on any and all practice questions or exams drafted by your professor.

6. Review your midterms

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Hey, remember those little tests you took waaaaaayyy back in October? Break those bad boys out and look at them again in preparation for finals.  Perhaps you’ve heard some version of the quote “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Well, the same applies to law school exams. The best way to improve your performance on final exams is to take a careful look at the mistakes that you have made so that you can avoid making them again.

7. Find your soul mate supplement

If you haven’t explored supplemental books yet, it is now or never. At least for this semester. Supplements are a great way to firm up your knowledge and an excellent source of practice questions. You can find a variety of supplements in your law school library, academic success department, and yes, of course, the interwebz. There are several different kinds of supplements, so searching for the right one can be overwhelming. I recommend that you look for one that has short, succinct summaries of the law and practice questions that match the format of your exam.

Finally, keep your head down and avoid catching the panic bug that is, or will be, rapidly spreading among your classmates. There can be psychological warfare this time of year, and it will serve you well to stay above the fray. Remember, final exams are important, and you should try your best. But they aren’t everything. Don’t put the weight of the world on the outcome of the test. Work hard and you’ll be just fine.


Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at info@vincoprep.com.