When finals season is just around the corner, students fall into two distinct categories: procrastinators who study mere days or even hours before the exam, and early planners who study weeks prior. Both groups have their unique study habits that are catered towards the type of student they are. In this article, we will compare the two approaches and see if it truly impacts final exam results. 

Studying Early: 

Early planners approach finals with organization and foresight. They begin planning by grouping units together and arranging study days. By breaking down school material into manageable chunks, they avoid the stress of last-minute cramming and work to absorb the information overtime. By utilizing techniques such as completing practice exams and discussing with peers, these students retain information in an organized manner and feel more confident as finals approach.  

Take Saisha Varaiya for example, a 10th grade honors student who has begun to study for finals months in advance. With the help of her trusty iPad and Goodnotes, Saisha has already organized and prepared for the weeks to come where stress is at its all time high. Saisha reports, “I like feeling in control when it comes to studying. I hate feeling rushed and stressed especially when finals season is basically in the summer.” 

However no matter how much teachers stress about starting early, there are downsides to it on the students. For example, early planners who study for long periods of time are more likely to experience burnout. They can lose motivation well before exams causing them to do worse in comparison to the effort they put into it. Additionally, learning units weeks prior to finals can cause students to forget information. Especially when most classes end their curriculum very close to finals week, the preliminary chapters can be overshadowed by new information, or vice versa. 

Procrastination: 

On the other hand, Cresskill High School also has its fair share of procrastinators, with students often waiting until the last possible minute to begin studying. These students rely on cramming information and praying that they retain it. 

Take Aidan Lee, an 11th grader who admits that, “on last year’s bio final, I studied literally the hour before and got an A.” Aidan says that although it was stressful, he felt as though he retained more when the information was fresh in his mind. This strategy can work for students who thrive under pressure, as the urgency of the situation forces them to lock in and memorize as much as they can. 

However, there are many downsides to procrastination. The stress of last-minute studying can lead to a lot of consequences, including stress and, most importantly, sleep deprivation. Many students admit that by leaving studying to the last minute, they end up staying up until the AMs or even pulling an all-nighter in order to get all the material in. 

Sophomore Catherine Ahn explains that after leaving all of her studying until the night before her World History exam, she “ended up facing the consequences of [her] actions” with a grade she refuses to share. After staying up late and surviving on caffeine, Catherine admits that she felt unprepared and overwhelmed with all the information. 

So, in the end, the choice comes down to a student and their habits, learning style, and ability to manage stress. While early planners may benefit from organization, they may experience significant burnout. On the other hand, procrastinators might thrive under last-minute pressure but take a leap of faith on retaining information. Whichever approach works for you, stay focused, lock in, and best of luck on finals!