Why Midterms Are Just What You Needed Halfway Through Your Semester

Why Midterms Are Just What You Needed Halfway Through Your Semester

Just when you started getting comfortable in your semester and feeling like you had all the time in the world...midterms strike.

For many students this word causes rolling eyes, panic attacks, and an overall kink in an otherwise profitable social calendar. Midterms are like mini-finals. It's the halfway point in the semester and many professors are wanting to take the pulse of the class by finding how much they know up to this point.

But midterms don't have to be ALL bad. In fact, you can use this time to your advantage or at least view it from a positive perspective.

1. Save all of your notes, quizzes and previous tests.

One of the best ways to study for a midterm is to go back through every test you've taken up to this point. If it was important enough to put on the first test, it will probably show up somewhere on the comprehensive midterm exam.

2. Use midterms as a wake up call.

If you've been enjoying your semester a little too much - not letting academics get in the way of your education, then it's probably time for a kick in the pants. Midterms are like an alarm that goes off and reminds you that you are in college to learn and helps you see how well you're actually doing that.

3.Your midterm becomes a great study tool for your final.

It is a great summary of everything the professor thought was important from the first half of the semester. Plus it gives you some excellent insight into how the professor composes comprehensive exams.

4. Midterms show you where you're completely missing it.

You may have developed some blind spots and the midterm exam will reveal those. Yes, it may cost you a low grade to discover this, but it's better to find out in the middle of the semester than on the last day during the final. If you do blow it on the midterm, you still have a few weeks to get the help and assistance you need to bring your grade up. 

5. A good midterm grade may cushion the blow of a bad final grade.

Most times, these comprehensive exams are worth more than other exams. If you do really well on your midterm, it will buffer some of the effects from a bad grade on something else. So put everything you can into being successful on your midterms and it can help you later on in the semester.

6. Some organizations use midterm grades as qualifications for involvement.

I know at our institution, we do a midterm grade check on all of our student leaders. This helps us to see if there are any red flags. If a student is below our minimum GPA required for involvement, that student will be placed on probation. If those grades don't improve by the end of the semester, the student leader may lose the opportunity to serve in that position.

7. Get organized.

If you completely missed it on your midterm exams, it may be time to look at your organization skills. You were given the dates of this exam back at the beginning of the semester on your syllabus. There's no reason to be surprised here. If you chose to try and study for a half-semester, comprehensive exam the night before it was offered...you just set yourself up for failure. If you try the same strategy when it comes to the final exam - you'll probably get the same results.

How are you getting ready for midterms? What strategies or insights can you share with others that can turn this tense time into a productive time?