6 Ways To Help Students Prepare For Finals
- Sean McCormick
- Dec 9, 2021
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 4
Last Updated: December, 2025
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Is your student staring down finals week feeling overwhelmed, disorganized, or unsure where to start?
In this post, you will learn 6 practical ways to support them in ways that build executive function skills that last beyond exam week.👇
Table of Contents
Before the holiday season hits, another season hits a bit harder: Finals season.
Students (and parents) are preparing to prove to their teachers that they were paying attention all semester and that all the information they supposedly absorbed actually stuck in their brains.
Finals season can be a stressful time for everyone in the family.
Maybe your student is staring at a mountain of review packets not knowing where to start, while you are at the kitchen table trying to figure out which test they should study for first.
It can be hard to know how to help your child study in a way that isn't overbearing but still sticks.
In this post, you'll learn 6 practical ways to support your student’s success this finals season.
Bu first, let's dive into why this topic matters and the common misttakes tto avoid.👇
Why Helping Your Student Prepare For Finals Matters
When students are supported in learning how to prepare for finals in a calm, structured way, they are really practicing core executive function skills.
During finals season, students may need support in:
planning a study schedule
organizing materials
deciding what to prioritize
managing stress
For example, you might sit with your student on Sunday evening and help them map out which subjects they will review each day, where their notes and study guides are, and what time they will start and end work.
This can make it easier to manage each final, especially for students with ADHD. If your student has ADHD and is struggling with finals, this video may help.👇
When adults coach students through this process instead of rescuing them, they build long term habits in planning, time management, task initiation, and self monitoring that will serve students far beyond one exam week.
3 Common Mistakes Made When Helping Students Prepare For Finals
Mistake #1: Letting finals become one huge vague monster
Many parents talk about finals as if they are one massive event, rather than a series of specific tasks.
Students then feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to begin, so they freeze or avoid studying altogether.
Instead of saying:
“Study for math”
adults can help students:
list which units will be on the test
which practice problems to complete
what to review first
When everything stays vague, students cannot use planning or prioritizing skills because the task is too blurry.
Clear, specific language gives their brain something concrete to organize.
Mistake #2: Taking over the entire process
A common pattern is that the parent creates the plan, gathers the materials, and tells the student exactly what to do, while the student simply follows along.
This may reduce stress in the moment, but it teaches the student that someone else will always manage the hard parts.
The brain never gets to practice planning, estimating time, or making decisions about what matters most.
A better approach is collaborative planning, where the adult asks questions like
“What is your first step?”
and then helps refine the plan.
The goal is to gradually shift responsibility to the student so executive function skills grow over time.
Mistake #3: Focusing only on cramming content and ignoring systems
During finals, adults often zoom in on reteaching content and drilling facts, while ignoring the systems that help students manage their work.
The student may learn the material for one test, but they still do not know how to track assignments, organize study guides, or pace their studying across several days.
This means the same panic will return next semester.
When you help a student set up a simple calendar or study checklist alongside reviewing content, you are teaching both what to study and how to manage the process.
6 Ways to Help Students Prepare For Finals
Way #1: Include your child in the discussion
Ask your student what they need to be successful this term.
If they say something along the lines of “I don’t know” suggest something like
“How about I make quiet hours in the house from 5-8pm a few days this week, would that be helpful?”
If they still shrug you can offer a short menu of options such as quiet hours, a homework check in after dinner, or help making a weekly plan and ask which feels most useful.
This keeps the conversation a 2-person effort and focuses on concrete support instead of vague nagging.
It also sends the message that you are a teammate, not a micromanager and that they get a voice in how school support looks at home.
Way #2: Post the midterm/final schedule on the fridge
By placing the schedule on the fridge (or somewhere else with high visibility), your student will have a visual reminder to study.
This can also help everyone in the house remember that your student has a busy and important week ahead of them.
You can go one step further by having your student write in which subject they plan to study on each day so the schedule becomes a living plan rather than a static paper.
Family members can use it as a cue to offer extra support such as keeping evenings quieter or taking over a chore on heavy study nights.
Way #3: Create a study dashboard with your student
A simple study dashboard gives your student one central place to track and organize everything they need for finals including:
deadlines
teacher contact information
review packets
exam dates
Instead of hunting through random tabs or crumpled papers they can open one page and instantly see:
when the exam is
where to find study resources
who to email if they get stuck
Building the dashboard together also lets you model planning and organization while keeping the student in the driver’s seat.
If you do not already have a system like this in place ,you can use my Student Dashboard template so you don't have to start from scratch.
You can also help them color code high priority classes, note which teachers they need to email, and plug in small daily study tasks.
Way #4: Create a quiet, calm environment
As much as you can, create a calm study environment.
For example, don’t invite friends over for an evening get-together while your student tries to study at the kitchen table.
Encourage your student to use a quiet place in the house or use noise canceling headphones.
When picking a productive study environment, we think about the five senses.
How does it sound, feel, look like, smell?
Taste is not as applicable, unless your student prefers to study with snacks.
In that case, taste really matters.
Way #5: Encourage a consistent sleep schedule
Sleep is when the brain consolidates learning, so a consistent sleep schedule is one of the most powerful study tools your student has.
When students go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day, their focus, memory, and emotional regulation all improve which makes finals week feel more manageable.
For example you might sit down with your student and agree that screens go off at 10 pm and lights out is at 10:30 pm during finals week.
You can help them plan backwards from that time so studying ends by 9:30 pm and there is a short wind down routine such as showering, packing their backpack, and choosing clothes for the next day.
Over a few nights, they will start to feel the difference in their morning energy and may become more willing to stick with the routine.
Here are some more resources to help:
Way #6: Help students remember their WHY
It can be easy to lose sight of the WHY when tests feel high stakes and high pressure.
You might say something like,
I know this math final feels like everything right now, but your bigger goal is to get into a college where you can study design and this test is just one small step on that path.
Remind students that although these tests feel overwhelming, in the long run they are just a stepping stone to achieving their more important goals.
If your student needs further long-term support in managing school, you can book a no-cost consult with a specialist here at EFS.
FAQs
How do I know if I am helping too much with studying for finals?
If you are doing all the planning, reminding, and organizing while your student passively follows along you are likely over helping.
Aim to shift toward asking questions guiding decisions and letting your student take the lead so their executive function skills actually strengthen.
What if my student refuses to use a study dashboard or schedule?
Start small and connect it to a pain point they already feel such as missing assignments or last minute panic before tests.
You can say "Let's try this for just one week and see if it makes finals feel even a little easier" and then review together how it went.
How can I support my student without increasing their stress?
Focus on calm, predictable routines like quiet study hours, a clear bedtime, and one daily check in rather than constant reminders.
When you show that you care more about their well being and effort than perfect scores, you lower the pressure and make it easier for them to engage with studying.
The Bottom Line
Finals season can feel intense, but it is also a great chance to help your student build stronger executive function skills and more confidence.
To recap, here are the 6 ways to help your student prepare for finals:
Ask your student what they need to be successful this term
Post the midterm or final schedule on the fridge
Create a study dashboard with your student
Create a quiet, calm environment
Encourage a consistent sleep schedule
Help students remember their WHY
Hope this helps 🤙🏻
This article is a part of the larger category of:
Related articles:
P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Want me to speak on executive function skills at your event? Learn more about my speaking topics here.