Final Exam Tips


For a full guide on the resources that UCF offers, how they can help your student to ace their final exams, and more head here: https://fye.sdes.ucf.edu/a-guide-to-preparing-for-final-exams/

Submit Final Exam and Projects On Time

Final scores are highly weighted toward students’ final grades. Some classes require students to submit final exams on Webcourses (UCF’s learning management system) as well. No matter what: it is very important students submit these things on time! When students submit their final work on time, it allows faculty to then have their full allotted time to finish the grading process, and also gives students time to ask questions about grading before it is finalized for the semester in the system.

Check the Final Exam Date/Time and Make a Study Plan

Final exam schedules vary from class to class, so it is important for students to understand that everyone will have a different schedule. Students should be aware of each class’s exam date and plan to review accordingly. The Spring 2023 final exam schedule search can be found here: https://exams.sdes.ucf.edu/2023/spring. Also, students should check the material covered in the final exam because the exam might be cumulative (cover material from the whole semester) or just material discussed since a midterm exam. If your student needs to adjust their exam schedule or have questions about policies related to final exams, the best point of contact is their instructor.

Utilize Faculty Office Hours

Not many students utilize their professor’s office hours. Let’s change that! Encourage your student to ask questions during the instructor’s office hours or send an email. This not only helps students perform better on the final exam but can build positive relationships with their faculty as well.

Avoid Excessive Stress 

If your student is overly stressed about final exams, remind them it’s important to take care of themselves in order to perform well academically. We know that most students don’t sleep and eat well during the final exam period, but it’s important for students to build healthier habits now so they can successfully navigate future final exam schedules too (they have eight total final exam weeks before they graduate after all!). Encourage them to avoid “all-nighters” and aim to get enough sleep instead. Eating well-balanced meals can also aid in staying healthy and going into exams feeling fueled and ready. Remind them their summer is just around the corner too!

Find Effective Study Methods and Places 

Every student has different study habits. Some students utilize flashcards, some prefer group studying, while some students need to talk about the material out loud. Encourage your student to think about methods they have used all semester that they found effective and stick to those. If they are struggling with finding the right study place or method, the Student Academic Resource Center has some great links to learning skills resources they can check out here: https://academicsuccess.ucf.edu/sarc/resources/.