Finals are coming up on the week of June 6-10, meaning they are less than two weeks away. Around this time, the panic starts to set in. You can’t ignore it any longer, because two more weekends are all that is separating you from taking those dreaded four finals.

Although we’d all like to pretend that we started studying a month before, let’s be honest, it won’t be until a day or two before finals week that we actually open up our notes and do any sort of review. However, even though you waited until the last possible minute to start studying, these cramming tips can help you ace your finals while taking up as little time as possible.

Create a Good Working Environment:

Studies have shown that taking care of your working environment improves productivity, helps retain talent and is good for overall mental health. So first things first, to effectively utilize these cramming tips, be sure to dedicate a specific space free of distractions while studying. Keep some water and snacks nearby as well to avoid any unnecessary distractions.

Prioritize:

Not all finals are equally difficult, so focus on the courses with finals in an exam format rather than courses whose finals are a reflection or a previously completed assignment. Also, concentrate your attention on the specific units that you found particularly difficult, or the units you know will show up at a greater frequency on the test.

Organize:

Although there is very little time, it is still important to organize all your resources and decide what you are going to do to review. A great way to review is by looking over past quizzes and tests and going over what you got wrong, showing which concepts are particularly difficult for you and may need extra attention. Quizlet is also very helpful if your final exam is memorization-heavy.

Take Breaks:

Although it’s tempting to avoid taking any breaks to cover all the material in time, research shows that taking purposeful breaks, which can be anywhere from 5-60 minutes, increases your energy, productivity, and ability to focus. Taking breaks is also very important to avoid burnout, a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. A website called Dive allows you to work in 50-minute intervals with a 10-minute break after each interval. Another cool feature of the website is that it connects you with someone else so you can stay motivated and on a task together. If you don’t like studying with other people, Dive also has a solo mode you can try out.

Get Help:

Don’t be afraid to shoot a quick email to your teacher or text your friends about something that is particularly confusing, even if it’s the day before the exam. If your teacher doesn’t respond in time, you could even try to get to school early and ask them about it then. Many resources are also available online to explain a difficult concept simply.

Finals week is stressful, so don’t feel guilty if you take a longer break to watch your favorite TV show or just to take a nap. Everyone works differently, and a longer break might be just what you need. However, be sure to get back on track as soon as you feel ready and continue studying.

The night before your final is arguably the most important, so resist the temptation to stay up late and try to get at least 7 hours of sleep in and make time to eat a good breakfast. You’ve done everything you can to ace that final and it will definitely pay off. Good luck Gators!