Help! Best way to study for first semester final?!?

PurrRN · Dec 6, 2006

Hey there, I just completed my first semester final yesterday.....so congrats on getting this far. My school always advised to study from the objectives and that pretty much worked for me. We were also allowed to look over all of our tests to get an idea of where we were the weakest. I realize that quite a few programs probably won't present that opportunity to their students, so if yours doesn't I would try to think back at which tests (block of material) were the hardest for you and try to get a better handle on that

Also, it seemed that alot of my classmates had a problem with the way the questions were presented. If you have the same problem I'd try to get with your teacher to try and find out a more effecte way to "read" the questions.

Good Luck....I'm rootin' for ya!!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2006

I'd agree. Focus on areas where you had the most problems, and go from there. How many ?s is your final?

Ours is 100, and I could pass without much problem, but I want the A!! Overall, we use P&P, and we were told to study our outline book, study questions from book chapters, and questions from online textbook site....

usually the questions come right out of there....

RN BSN 2009 · Dec 6, 2006

yes we are using P&P too

lmorgan708 · Dec 6, 2006

I think I am in the same boat you are in! I am having trouble figuring out how to study for my first semester final! I have an 81.5 right now and have to have 78 to pass. I am trying to focus on what I struggled with on the tests so far. We were not given our tests by to see what we missed on them so I am having trouble in that area trying to figure out what I did do wrong. Hopefully if you focus on the main points that you know you struggled with you can do well. Good Luck to both of us!

BeccaznRN, RN · Dec 6, 2006

That's what I would do as well for all of my finals.....concentrate most on areas I was weakest in, then simply review for the rest. All of my finals were cumulative, and with four courses with cumulative finals, there was just no way to go back over everything in detail.

I never really did super-great on finals (cumulative tests were always troublesome for me), so I made sure to work my tail off for good grades throughout the semester in order to make up for that. If you ask any instructor, they will say that statistically students usually perform about the same on finals as for previous tests. So try not to stress too much!

lmorgan708 · Dec 6, 2006

Thanks for the encouragement!!

aeb7 · Dec 6, 2006

We have 100 questions on our final. I figured out I can pass even If i miss 30 questions...hopefully not! I would really like to get the A but I don't think it is possible now. I will settle for a B.

We are not allowed to look at our past tests and it seems like they were so long ago I don't remember what I had problems with in the first place. We are also using P&P which I highlighted when I read. I also did the test questions on the books website and in the NCLEX review book, and did great on them, but when test time comes the type of questions are completely different and strangely worded.

I think it is a good idea to start with what I had the most problems with then review the rest. I am just concerned that the final will have minute details as did the other tests that unless you read every word in the chapter you wouldn't know

I RN A · Dec 6, 2006

I just had my first quarter NS final. 100 questions. I've been doing the readings all the way through to the final. I've stayed on top. I've highlighted what ever I thought was important. I reviewed and reviewed and reviewed. I have been writing notes while reading. I looked for key points. Also often when I read I try to play a "teacher game". That is I think what questions would I ask if I would make that test. It have worked a lot of times. I have seen those questions on the test. We aren't allowed to look at our tests. There were 2 tests: midterm and the final. No study guides were given. We were told that all we have learned to this point is a "fair game". The final wasn't bad. I wanted to get an A, but most likely will get a B or B+. I could miss 29 points for a low B. I think I did better than this.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Dec 6, 2006

we have 100 questions on our final. we are not allowed to look at our past tests and it seems like they were so long ago i don't remember what i had problems with in the first place. we are also using p&p which i highlighted when i read. i also did the test questions on the books website and in the nclex review book, and did great on them, but when test time comes the type of questions are completely different and strangely worded.
i think it is a good idea to start with what i had the most problems with then review the rest. i am just concerned that the final will have minute details as did the other tests that unless you read every word in the chapter you wouldn't know

:yeahthat: i'm going to need a 79 on the cumulative final to maintain my "b"....this last test (and the 2nd one) just killed me....i'm going to try to go back over that material -- and i know where my weaknesses are, but without the tests to review the specific questions, i am a little aggravated....i do well with the p&p reviews online and in the book, have done some work with my saunders, but i'm petrified about the minute details as you mention!!

good luck everyone -- it's almost break time!!

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