As the end of the semester slowly creeps upon us, the threat of final exams grows to be more stressful.
If you have tried to study online recently, you probably have been met with the dreaded paywall. Paywalls crush the dreams of many and can deter people from using certain websites when it comes to studying.
Expensive price tags on online resources have caused a lot of The North Wind staff to find alternative routes for preparing for big exams.
Although in a digital world it can be frustrating to be turned away from our computers, most of us have found solace in resorting back to ways of studying that can be done through pen and paper.
Most North Wind writers have gone back to preparing for exams with flash cards. This is a great method for studying because the distraction of a device is no longer an issue; you can’t surf the world wide web on a sheet of paper! Additionally, writing things down can help you memorize the topics you are trying to study. Doing this is already an extra step to the study routine, and after you’re done writing you can use your material to study again.
A con to doing this is a matter of resources.
Flash cards are an added cost that college students may not be able to cover on top of other expenses, and flash cards can take time. Flash cards are a great option, but if you’re attempting to get a quick cram in they may not be the best route, because they can be untimely.
Some of our North Wind staff do pay for premium subscriptions to quizzing websites.
Those who pay for the subscriptions say that it’s nice to have full access to the website to study, but they find they do not use it often enough to defend the bill that is sent each month.
Overall, the North Wind staff agrees sometimes the hardest part of studying for the exam is remembering how to take a test. Test taking is hard. Some people have minds that are suited for exams, while others are suited for essays. Finding a groove that fits you while taking an exam can be difficult — even if you studied well — if you have trouble taking exams.
But trying times, make for trying efforts.
One North Winder has found a website that mimics a now paywalled site that most of us grew up using. They now use all the same features for free, but with the cost of more ad breaks.
When it comes to studying for your end of the semester exams, remember to do what works best for you.
If you are like some of us here at the North Wind and have a hard time starting to study, and you do not want to be restricted by online pay walls, try going back to the analogue form we are all familiar with. Sometimes going back to the basics is one of the best ways to start when you’re at a loss.
A lot of us here at the North Wind have been lost while studying and found our way back through a paper and pen.
