Having a midterm or final during the last week of classes can suck. Finals belong in finals week, and midterms should at least pretend to be toward the middle of the semester. Regardless, some professors give out exams the last week of classes, but this isn’t a reason to despair — you can make the most out of this situation. Here are some tips on how to handle having a midterm or final during the last week of classes. 

Use it to kickstart your studying

Sometimes it’s difficult to start studying for finals. Dead week can feel more like a time to catch up on sleep and relax than to focus on material. Having a midterm or final this week can help you avoid this problem. By studying regularly this week, you can get into a groove that’ll help you keep studying next week. In this way, your test and your last-minute studying will help you prepare for the rest of your exams.

Resist the urge to strangle your friends (who have lots of free time)

There’s a chance that your friends don’t have the same tests you do. For them, this week is relaxing as the semester is officially winding down. With all their free time, they may be inviting you to join them in some relaxing and fun activities. Don’t get too jealous or angry. Your friends aren’t trying to rub how lucky they are in your face.

Remember that it’ll give you an easier finals week

Even though it might seem bad now, your schedule will make finals week easier. Every final you do now is one less you’ll have to do during finals week. As an added bonus, you won’t have to study for that final during dead week. If you have a midterm, that means you’ve already studied a decent portion of the material for your final, which will make studying and the test easier.

Take a break from that subject afterward

After taking a midterm, you might burn yourself out by jumping right into studying for that class’s final. Instead, go study for one of your other classes. A little variety will keep studying from feeling like a slog. When it’s time to review the material for the class you had a midterm in, a lot of it will feel familiar. This will be nice after you struggle to remember and relearn the material for the rest of your classes.

Remember that you’ll get through

Having an exam during the last week of classes can make the end of the semester feel like a three-week gauntlet of exams. Though it can be disheartening, it doesn’t have to be. If you take it one day at a time, you’ll get through it. Let summer vacation be the light at the end of the tunnel. It’ll all be over before you know it.

Good luck on all of your exams, both during the last week of the semester and in the weeks to come. Hopefully, these tips will help you see any test you have the week before dead week as more of a gift than a burden.