Finals Plan of Attack: Prepare Your Plan of Action (Part 1)

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As finals approach, many students enter survival mode—staying up late, re-reading notes, and hoping for the best.

But hope is not a strategy.

In this article, you’ll learn a simple, high-impact process to help your child or student set a goal, prepare a plan, and communicate with their teacher—all essential executive function skills.

Whether you’re a parent guiding a stressed-out teen or an educator trying to teach planning strategies, this three-step system will help your student stop spinning and start preparing.

Let's dive in👇

Why is preparing a plan of action for finals so important?

Having a target grade in mind before finals gives students more than just direction—it gives them power.

It helps them:

• Prioritize what to study

• Know which assignments to revisit

• Manage their time

Rather than drowning in review sheets, they’re swimming toward a specific finish line.

More importantly, setting a grade goal teaches students how to work backward from an outcome and plan strategically. This is a critical executive function skill that translates to everything from succeeding in college to career planning.

It builds clarity, control, and confidence during one of the most stressful parts of the school year.

Why Most Students Crash During Finals Season

Reason #1: They don't know what grade they want

Many students never actually stop to figure out the grade they’re trying to earn.

Without a target, they have no way to gauge how much effort they need or where to focus it.

They end up studying everything equally or putting energy into the wrong assignments.

Reason #2: They don't talk to their teacher

A lot of students are afraid to email their teachers, but this is a major missed opportunity.

Teachers often have key insights—like what assignments are still accepted, how much the final project weighs, or whether there’s an extra credit opportunity.

Without asking, students stay in the dark.

Reason #3: They don't have a plan

Cramming is not a plan.

Without a strategy, students default to rereading everything and hoping something sticks.

That approach is inefficient and only increases stress.

With a clear roadmap, they can spend their limited time where it counts—like reviewing old tests or drilling weak areas.

3 Steps to Prepare a Plan of Action for Final Exams

Step 1: Identify the goal grade and calculate what they need on the final to reach it

You can use ChatGPT as a quick and easy tool to calculate what you need on your final. Just type in your current grade, the grade you want, and how much the final is worth, and it will tell you the score you need.

For example, if you have a 79%, want to end with an 80%, and your final is worth 15% of your grade, ChatGPT can calculate that you need around an 85.67% on the final.

That’s a doable target—but not one to leave to chance.

You can use ChatGPT to help you calculate how to earn the grade you want

Step 2: Reach out to the teacher for confirmation and guidance

Have your student email their teacher to confirm their goal grade and ask for any advice.

Here’s a simple email they can use:

Hi [Teacher’s Name],

I’m working on a plan to finish strong this semester and wanted to check in.

I currently have a [X]% in your class, and I’m aiming for a [Y]% by the end of the semester.

Could you help me confirm what I’d need to earn on the final or any major projects to hit that goal?

Also, are there any upcoming assignments or ways I can improve my grade before the final?

Thanks so much. I appreciate your help,

[Student Name]

For a reliable framework on how to structure an email to teachers, check out my article: How to Email a Teacher That *Actually* Gets a Response

And for an in-depth tutorial, you can watch my video on how to use templates in Gmail to communicate more effectively with teachers 👇

Step 3: Build the action plan

Once the goal and expectations are clear, help your student identify next steps.

These could include:

• Completing a practice final

• Reviewing questions missed on previous tests

• Asking for help during office hours

• Submitting missing work

• Creating a weekly review calendar for each subject

Then, encourage them to email their teacher again with the proposed plan and ask for feedback.

It shows initiative and gets everyone aligned on what success looks like.

If you want more resources on how to help your student end the semester strong, check out my Semester Success Blueprint course.

The Bottom Line

A clear goal and a little bit of planning go a long way when preparing for finals.

Here are 3 steps to prepare your plan of action:

1. Use a tool like ChatGPT to calculate the grade needed on the final

2. Have your student email their teacher to confirm and ask for advice

3. Help them create a list of high-impact actions they can take to reach their goal

   
   

Hope this helps 🤙🏻

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.

Join 100+ students and parents here.

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.