How Do You Study for Final Exams that are Cumulative?

Kaligirl02, ADN, BSN, MSN, LVN, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 14, 2012

Hi! My instructor basically said that we couldn't really study for the cumulative exams...... You just " know it or you don't." I don't believe that one bit so I just review my flash cards, review the key points at the end of the chapters and get on the partner website and do all the quizzes. Good luck! I still have 7 more weeks till I'm done with med-surg.

katia0203 · Mar 14, 2012

You know, I'm a senior in my last semester and I still haven't figured out how to study for a cumulative exam. It really depends on what kinds of stuff the prof gave you for study materials. For example, my profs teach via powerpoints, so studying them worked best. Basically skim the stuff you know and look closer and what you don't feel comfortable with yet. Need to know meds? Flashcards work really well; you learn them while making them as well as using them. I'm not sure how much NCLEX questions will help you here since they won't cover just what you're learning right now.

And the most important thing...don't get burnt out. Don't study so much that your head is spinning with information, you're exhausted, and you can't think. Get a good night's sleep before the exam, eat a good breakfast, and try and relax. I know you have heard this before, but I'm telling you that it really is helpful.

Good luck to you!

One1, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2012

I used to type and save my own study guides for each exam. For all accumulative exams, I would reprint my study guides and read them before the final. By finals' time we were usually almost done with our clinicals though and I found that most concepts had already "clicked" by having seen them in person.