How do you study for cumulative finals?

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JustLookingforAnswers

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Just how do you do it? I got exempt from my Anatomy final because I got a high grade, so I thankfully do not have to worry about that. My average in my chem class is a 100 (I got extra bonus points on test questions) and I know this cumulative final is going to make my A go all the way down. I already calculated if I got a zero on my chem final it would give me a B (85%)...But I want the A.

How do you guys do it? How do you keep that A when this one grade will just make the last 15 weeks of work go down the drain? To be honest I don't think I can get an A on cumulative chem final...I could for bio but for chem I don't think I can.

Thanks!
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😉
 
JustLookingforAnswers said:
How do you guys do it? How do you keep that A when this one grade will just make the last 15 weeks of work go down the drain? To be honest I don't think I can get an A on cumulative chem final...I could for bio but for chem I don't think I can.

Thanks!
Click to expand...


There's a lot of lacking confidence that I'm getting from this.

Whatever you're doing, studying, lifting weights, or picking up chicks in Skyrim taverns, you gotta have confidence. Make your flash cards. Write your notes. Teach someone else in a group session.

Above all. Just say: I can.

The rest will come.
 
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If you have a 100, you should be looking forward to a cumulative final! You already know or knew almost all of the information. Plus, if getting a 0 puts you at an 85, then a 50 will put you at a 90. I'm sure with a 100 average, you can get a 50. Review your tests. If you did that well the first time, it should come back to you quickly. If it doesn't, perhaps re-evaluate how you study in the first place, because it won't serve you well in the long run. But, I have a hunch that it should come back quickly for ya 🙂 I also agree with the suggestion of teaching - you'll own the material much better afterwards.
 
Study everything?

Truly, the first pass through, you should be studying for understanding, not just to cram for the upcoming exam. If you study that way from the start, it pays off down the line, as you don't have to relearn the same material over and over and over. New information tends to build on what you had before, so it makes learning the next chunk that much easier.

Then, when it is time to study for a cumulative test or for boards or whatever, it is really all review... just going back and filling in a few little details instead of having to build over from scratch.
 
I'm currently procrastinating studying for my cumulative exam in med school. If you have a 100% in the class, I would go out every single night (or substitute going out with your favorite activity) until the final. And then roll into the final like "I got this" and sit down and score like an 80 or something. Maybe a 70. Draw something for your prof on your paper too (I did that all the time). You know the material and at the end of the day, the difference between a 93% and a 100% is not going to matter. They are both seen as (A) by medical schools.

That being said, studying for a cumulative final starts on day 1. When you sit down to study during the week, sit down and start at the beginning. Just a quick, 1 hour review every day before you start learning the new stuff. You'll be amazed at how well things stick in your brain when finals roll around. Too late for that? Bring the coffee pot to the library and stay there until you've gone through all your notes. Most importantly, your learning needs to be ACTIVE. Don't just read your notes, actively try to test yourself. If you read: Dissociation Constant, close your eyes and quiz yourself. What does a small Kd mean? How do I calculate Kd? Take a 5-10 minute break every hour (hence why I'm on SDN) and a 1 hour break every 3 hours to avoid burnout.

And realize the amount of material you cover in medical school is staggering, so start getting in the habit of reviewing everything in undergrad. The concepts are actually very simple, but in the last 9 weeks we've covered 2 semesters of undergraduate Biochem, 1 semester genetics (WAY above undergrad level), and 2 semesters molecular, cellular, and devo bio. Everything you learn in medical school culminates in a final known as STEP 1.
 
You'd be surprised how much you remember. I was in a similar position for my statistics final. All I needed was a 50% on the final to keep my A, so I chose not to study for statistics at all and focus on my other finals. I was confident that I could pull a 50% from the folds of my brain after doing so well all semester. I ended up getting a 90 on the final without studying at all.

Bottom line: if you're able to rock exams all semester long, a cumulative final really isn't too challenging.
 
stickgirl390 said:
You'd be surprised how much you remember. I was in a similar position for my statistics final. All I needed was a 50% on the final to keep my A, so I chose not to study for statistics at all and focus on my other finals. I was confident that I could pull a 50% from the folds of my brain after doing so well all semester. I ended up getting a 90 on the final without studying at all.

Bottom line: if you're able to rock exams all semester long, a cumulative final really isn't too challenging.
Click to expand...

Yeah all semester all I have been doing is studying to learn and not memorize. I hope it's not too bad. Thanks for your help.
 
Promethean said:
Study everything?

Truly, the first pass through, you should be studying for understanding, not just to cram for the upcoming exam. If you study that way from the start, it pays off down the line, as you don't have to relearn the same material over and over and over. New information tends to build on what you had before, so it makes learning the next chunk that much easier.

Then, when it is time to study for a cumulative test or for boards or whatever, it is really all review... just going back and filling in a few little details instead of having to build over from scratch.
Click to expand...
I don't memorize. Like you said that is what I do: I study to learn. But I guess I don't have much confidence myself, and I feel as though I need to review EVERYTHING from the start.
 
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Amphetamines... 😛 I'm joking,
Studying gradually would work fine.
 
This is going to sound extremely basic and I'm sure a lot of people always study this way, but I would make myself a schedule for finals. Every day leading up to the exam for at least a few weeks (if not a full month depending on how much there was to cover) I would have written down a goal for the day. Like maybe I would review sections 3.1 through 3.3 or whatever it is, and then give myself a handful of practice problems. I cannot stress enough how useful practice problems are. The key is to work on it a little bit every day and make sure you're pacing yourself so that you have it all covered by the exam date, ideally leaving the last day or two free for general review and last-minute work on your weak spots. Map the whole thing out ahead of time and then stick to it.
 
Has 100 in class.
Believes he/she will fail the final.

What am I missing?

If a 0 will take you to 85, then a 50 would still leave you at 92.5. ..which is an A.
Now is the opportunity to take the exam dressed in a banana costume :banana:, write down hilarious responses and get a 50.

Meanwhile I have my first cumulative medical school exam in 1 week, and a tear just rolled down my face rather slowly and dramatically. :bigtears:
 
Yeah I agree that there is very little mathematical basis for your fear if a 0 will get you a B... but as far as studying for cumulative exams in general, I think it's helpful to hand write reviews: important concepts, applications of formulas, all of the important general info. Then, I'd make flash cards of the details (usually hand written). This way you understand the concepts and their order from the review sheet where you can see everything together (the big picture), AND you understand the details from the flash cards.
 
studentdocftw said:
Has 100 in class.
Believes he/she will fail the final.

What am I missing?

If a 0 will take you to 85, then a 50 would still leave you at 92.5. ..which is an A.
Now is the opportunity to take the exam dressed in a banana costume :banana:, write down hilarious responses and get a 50.

Meanwhile I have my first cumulative medical school exam in 1 week, and a tear just rolled down my face rather slowly and dramatically. :bigtears:
Click to expand...

You are missing the fact that OP doesn't actually need help, but rather wanted an opportunity to brag about their current standing in class. Someone in their position isn't genuinely curious about study habits specific to a cumulative final.
 
I make condensed study packets for myself throughout the semester for every exam. So when finals come around, I condense all of my condensed packets to make one packet for my final exam that has all of the material I think the professor will test on. It's been working for me!

If you haven't been doing that type of thing the entire semester, I would recommend just picking out the high-yield material from your older material and study that. Then, if you have time, go back and study some nitty-gritty detailed stuff. You'll find this strategy useful for the MCAT as well. 😉

P.S. If you have a 100 in the class you have no reason to worry. :wtf:
 
cringed hard. Use simple logical thinking to realize a cumulative final is broader than any of the tests you have taken so far. They aren't going to put something brutally specific on the final that you learned in passing. Most profs will basically pull from each test certain concepts and test them in a different way. If you learned something that had three techniques and you were tested on one during exam A, expect to see that concept but a different technique on a cumulative final.

Also, you reak of neuropathy. Or is it neurotipy? neuroticism? idk:cyclops::cyclops::cyclops::cyclops::cyclops::whistle::whistle::laugh::laugh:

Besides, if you have a 99+ in the class, and you get a 99.9 on the final, please please please be sure to complain to the prof that you were robbed of your 100%. Profs love students like you.
 
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