Exam time is near. Perhaps enough attention hasn't been paid to one, two or maybe all classes throughout the semester and it's really time to get on the ball.
Some University of Memphis students may suddenly shift to "do or die" mode, where a solid final exam grade means success and a poor one means, to put in charitably, all the things associated with poor exam scores.
This scenario isn't uncommon for this time of year: students pulling all-night studying marathons to make that (hopefully) perfect grade.
But that's not the best way for college students to ensure success on final exams, writes researchers at the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston.
The problem arises from the lack of sleep students suffer. In an online article, the researchers concluded that in most cases "all-nighters" simply don't yield the desired performance results.This is because a sleep-deprived person can't commit new information to memory as well as some would hope, the researchers concluded.
It's common knowledge that keeping up with school's demands throughout the semester is a good way to prepare for an exam. Well-prepared notes don't hurt, either.
But what about those students who might have been slacking or who struggled just to stay afloat on previous tests?
Study the most essential areas and get some sleep, says Steve Stein, instructor of history at The U of M.
"You're better off sleeping the night before an exam than cramming," Stein said. "Concentrate on the essential information, not the trivia."John Robertson, a teacher assistant in the history department agreed, saying students need to study in a specific place every day and learn discipline.
"Sometimes I think a couple of years with a drill sergeant would do wonders for discipline," Robertson said.
Although last minute cramming isn't advised, some students will likely do it anyway, raising the issue of stimulants.
Over-the-counter stimulants range from the most basic, like coffee, to the more serious, like pills that can have a negative effect.
Lisa Huffstetler, a political science instructor at The U of M who has had "plenty" of students fall asleep during class, said she once had a student who confessed that he hadn't slept in four days. She said the student had consumed a combination of Red Bull (a carbonated energy drink) and NoDoz (pills containing 200 mg of caffeine each).
Huffstetler said she used stimulants as an undergraduate to help stay awake while studying, but actually ended up forgetting all the test material due to lack of sleep and medication, and couldn't even remember her testing location.
"I really think some students think over-the-counter medications are no big deal," Huffstetler said. "It's just like taking a drug and students can underestimate their power. Students can't rely on stimulants."
Not all U of M students claim to need a serious dose of energy to stay awake. Coffee and Coca-Cola were the most frequently mentioned stimulants.
Some students, like junior biology major Adia Corbin, just snack on candy.
Whenever freshman sports and exercise science major Courtney Ellis has a test to study for, she slurps down a smoothie and chews gum frequently to fend off sleepiness.
"I go to CK's," said Adam Shelton, a graduate student. "I find that's the perfect place to study. Coffee refills are free after paying for the first cup."
