Stockton- The first year with a new finals schedule can be challenging and, unfortunately, for Lincoln students we have to face this unique finals pattern head on and do our best to prepare ourselves for a much more challenging week. For students at Lincoln High, the shift from the familiar, “friendlier” exam week with our classes spread out to this new condensed and high intensity schedule can feel daunting on a student, especially now that finals are less than a week away.
What can we do to prepare?
Lincoln offers the “Cookies and Cram” tradition on campus. Available on Tuesday, December 16 for all grade levels to come and cram together for finals with a nice treat on the side to motivate you. Use this time wisely. Bring specific questions for your teachers, especially about the shorter, more numerous exams scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Enjoy the cookies, but keep your purpose in mind!
Your game plan for turning stress into success.
Monday December 15 & Tuesday, December 16 is your biggest help this week because it is the full two days dedicated solely to studying before the exams even begin. Use this time not just to review, but to prioritize and practice.
Monday: Tackle the hardest Subjects First
Dedicate this day to your hardest subjects or those with the strongest final exam weight like AP History, Physics, Calculus etc. because these require deep, focused practice, not just memorization. Spend a minimum of four hours on your top priority subject. Do practice problems or write out a full essay outline. Don’t just read your notes; actively engage with the material! Review the material for your Wednesday 1st and 4th Period finals excessively, since they are your first two-hour blocks and set the tone for the week.
Tuesday: Review and Refine
Transition to subjects that rely more on memorization like vocabulary, dates, formulas, and definitions (classes like Foreign Language & Sciences). Try to create and review flashcards, work with a study partner to quiz each other on key facts, and organize your notes for the rest of the week’s exams.
The Exam days
The new schedule consists of having two long periods then the rest of the classes leaving us with only 25 minutes to finish.
Wednesday, December 17th: This is your busiest day. The challenge here is the ability to switch focus quickly between subjects in the afternoon.
Time Period Type of Exam
8:30 – 10:30 1st Period Two-Hour Block…Focus on your review from Monday.
10:35 – 12:35 4th Period Two-Hour Block…Review notes in the 5-minute passing period.
12:35 – 1:05 Lunch…Do not study, eat a meal and move away from your desk to reset your focus.
1:10 – 3:35 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th.. Before each short final, take a moment to write down at least 2-3 key formulas or facts on the scratch paper you’ll be given to jolt your memory.
Wednesday afternoon’s schedule comes with fast transitions. You won’t have time to study between periods so rely on your notes from the preparation days.
Thursday & Friday: With Wednesday successfully completed, the remaining two days will feel much lighter. Only study for the exams scheduled for the next day. Do not try to look ahead to Friday’s exams on Wednesday night. Thursday’s focus is 6th & 2nd period: these are both two-hour blocks,which you have to return to a deeper test-taking mode.
Friday (5th & 3rd Period): Maintain your routine, get good sleep, eat breakfast, and power through the last two exams. Sleep is important because a tired mind can’t perform as well no matter how much you try to cram.. So try to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night, starting Sunday and bring a water bottle and snacks for energy, especially during the longer periods.
