Prepping for your First Exams

Greetings!! Classes are in session and now students’ first exams are right around the corner. Wondering how you can help as a parent? Then this is just the blog for you!

Exams are stressful times for students, but there are multiple resources on campus you can encourage them to reach out to during this time. One of the best resources NC State has to offer is the Academic Success Center. Here students can meet in groups or 1-on-1 for help from other students that have already gone through the course. Encourage your student to network with others during these meetings. It is a great opportunity to make friends that can help them on future exams. Another amazing resource for exam preparation is office hours. Every professor holds these office hours in an attempt to allow students to ask questions and receive the help they need. An added benefit to attending these hours is that your student will get to know their professor better, which helps them understand how the professor changes difficulty and wording on exam questions. However, even with all of these resources your student needs to understand their study habits.

Asking students about their study habits will also help them find the right environment for studying. Many students prefer to study days or even weeks before their exam so that they can take a slower approach to studying while others like to try and cram the day before. Either way, finding the right environment for productive studying is important. NC State Libraries are a great place for a very quiet and work focused environment. However, if students prefer some background noise, Talley Student Union is a great alternative, where students have access to a range of environments. Some students also prefer to study in groups, which is why getting to know classmates can be very beneficial. Take the time to understand how your student enjoys studying and encourage them to take advantage of the on-campus environments and resources when they see fit.

If your student is struggling in a class or does not feel comfortable taking an exam, ask them to reach out to their professor about the situation to see whether or not they can work something out. Most professors want their students to succeed, and therefore will accommodate any reasonable exceptions.

In addition, students struggling in other ways during this time are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center.

• Kaden Steinmann