As the first semester slowly ends, finals are just around the corner! South El Monte High School students will have to prepare for their exams to achieve their desired scores. A final exam grade is calculated by the total amount of points you earned on the test, and converted into a percentage.
How can you best prepare for your exams? It is of the utmost importance to utilize available resources that are around you, such as free online websites and textbooks you can use to help study. To study a textbook, it is important to take notes on key information to remember. Rereading notes is important, to stick the information in your head. Students who don’t have textbooks available for them can download PDFs online, or visit their local library.
Interviewing Henry Liem, a Junior at SEMHS, I asked about tips and sources. “When it comes to tough exams and finals, I try to breathe first. Organizing my brain and figuring out what is required of me always helps. Try to write or type everything you need to know for a certain exam down and then commit to that study guide before the exam. Watching videos, reading, and writing helps engage your senses in my experience.” He also adds, “For almost all classes, I highly recommend Khan Academy, but if your class doesn’t appear on Khan Academy, resources like Heimler’s history, Crash course, YouTube, and Paul’s Online Math Notes work well. If your class is an AP Class, I guarantee that you’ll have no trouble finding resources when searching. ‘AP [insert class here] resources.’ That’s what I typically do.”
Mrs. Frias, a teacher who teaches I.M 1, 3, and calculus, also agrees with Henry. She believes sources like Khan Academy are useful for learning. “I like Khan Academy, since students can independently learn from it, and do practice problems. YouTube can also reinforce the lesson. I’ve also been liking chatGPT when I was recently introduced to it. If students use it correctly, I feel like it does a good job explaining.”
Mrs. Frias also tries her best to prepare students for the exams. “I give students opportunities to improve their grades. For example, I’d stay after school, give them opportunities to turn in late work, earn extra credit from class participation, opportunities to revise and resubmit their work and give them study guides and post-answer keys. I make short videos explaining problems and post them on Google Classroom.” She also believes that students who work hard will do well on finals. As Mrs. Frias says, “Most students are true to their performance. The work you put in is the result you’re gonna get back.”
Creating and studying flashcards are useful for memorizing information, which comes in handy for messy classes like history, science, or any AP class. Quizlet is an online platform that offers online flashcards for various subjects and is used by many students. Study.com, another widely used program by both students and teachers, offers courses for students, assists in preparing for exams, and even an option to earn credits. Try it out, and to apply for a free trial, email [email protected] for more information.
Math can be a tricky subject to learn, especially as you get to the higher levels. Math requires both critical thinking and problem-solving, so using resources that can help you practice problems will help. Platforms, like IXL, a learning platform for students, offer K12 grade curriculum subjects for your personalized growth. It provides students with a personalized pathway for development and includes practice problems for students to learn. You’ll probably be crying on the floor because of the number of practice problems you have to do to finish. But don’t worry! You’ll have a better comprehension of the material because you learned it, and it will be worth it in the end.
Did you know that SEMHS offers free tutoring programs? Well, now you know! No cost, no payment, no transactions. Taking advantage of this free tutoring program will help give you a clear understanding of a tricky topic. Many students underutilize these free tutoring programs that provide tutors who teach any subject they need assistance with. If you’re feeling shy or scared of the tutors, the quadratics tutoring club offered at SEMHS has got you covered!
SEMHS has the Quadratics Tutoring Club, run by Henry Liem and Mrs. Frias as the club advisor. This club offers tutoring by your peers to all grades and is open after school. “I believe the club can help students get the help they need whenever they feel too nervous to talk to a teacher,” Henry says. “Sometimes, the material can get tough, but if a tutor studied the material recently, the tutor can explain it in a way that is distinct from a teacher’s explanation, helping the student greatly.” Mrs. Frias adds, “Usually we have a lot of peer tutors helping out, so students are more comfortable when a student is helping another student. Whenever students are here, I also supply them with extra examples for practice.” If you’re ever confused on a tricky topic, come to room 163 to ask for help from tutors. Don’t be shy!
Whether you are feeling stressed, anxious, or even confident about the exam, just know that preparation is key to success! So quit procrastinating, get your studying materials out, but don’t forget to take breaks when you need them. Rock on Eagles, you’ve got this!
