Ace Your Finals With These Helpful Study Tools

When it comes time to study for finals, you have a lot of resources to fall back on. Finding a great study method is a big part of the equation, but you may need a few great tools to help out, too. Granted, these tools are useful all semester long, but it’s never too late to invest in quality materials and elevate your learning. Whether you’re cracking down for a week of brutal tests before the holiday season or preparing for next term, look into these to enhance your study sessions. 

The best study tools for note-taking

Note-taking is serious business and requires more strategy than you think. There are a few different ways to take notes, so figuring out the one that works best for you is crucial—and especially so during those end-of-semester classes when professors are going over what’s going to be on the final. These tools will help.

• A smart notebook like the Rocketbook Core ($27.73) will help you digitize your notes quickly, keeping them organized and accessible by taking them from hand-written to your devices. Hand-writing notes helps you retain information better, but having notebooks full of information is not helpful when you’re trying to find something specific at study time. Bonus: You can use these for blurting, too. When you’re studying, quiz yourself by hiding your materials and writing everything you can remember on a blank page, then checking it against the text and your notes. By blurting into a smart notebook, you’ll be able to easily track all your blurt sessions, keeping better tabs on how much more you retain every time you do it. 

• Pick up some sticky notes with tabs (two packs for $7.95) if you want to use a real-deal notebook but still stay organized. These can help you during your oh-so-important note revision, giving you the opportunity to sort your content by topic, importance, or whether or not it’ll be on the test.  

• Another solid option for those who prefer taking hand-written notes is the BookFactory notebook ($14.99), which comes set up for you to take Cornell-style notes, with a column for main ideas built into the left side of each page. This (with the sticky notes) can help you stay super organized. 

The best study tools for reading

Reading and reviewing are the most basic part of studying, but it’s hard to stay focused all the time. There are a few gadgets that can help you get the job done. 

• Grab a portable book light, first of all. There are all kinds available online that clip directly to your texts and notebooks, but it’s fussy to have to unclip and clip them when you want to turn a page. Try one that you wear around your neck instead, like this one from Glocusent ($21.99). Being comfortable while you study is important, especially during long-haul sessions, so this enables you to read in your bed, in an armchair, or while commuting—the options are pretty endless. 

• If the library closes early or you just want to study in the comfort of your own home, you can find a lap desk that caters to your specific needs. I like this one from Slendor ($29.99) because it’s foldable and portable, plus it has USB connectivity for charging, a holder for a cup, a stand for your iPad or notebook, and a little drawer for all your highlighters and doodads. Having dedicated study materials that you pull out at crunch time helps you compartmentalize and get in the zone, so getting a mini desk that triggers the “it’s time to study” feeling is really helpful. 

• I’ve recommended white noise machines for studying before, but this is just a reminder that you should get one to help you focus—and if it’s for studying, especially, it should have a lamp on it. The Reacher sound machine ($34.19) has a built-in light and 26 sounds so you can find just the right one. 

The best study tools for memory practice

There are a lot of memory-enhancing techniques available out there, but they’re not super useful if you don’t have the right tools. In addition to getting a smart notebook for blurting and revision, as mentioned above, consider these.

• If you use the Leitner system (and you should be!) for your retrieval and memory practice, a sectioned box for your flashcards will make a huge difference. With the Leitner system, you sort your flashcards into different categories based on whether or not you answer them correctly at different study intervals, studying ones you consistently get right less and less frequently. Typically, students use envelopes or binder clips to keep the notecards separated, but this box from Neando ($36.98) does the work for you by including dividers inside. 

• This is going to sound basic, but please pick up some different colored pens. You can get 12 different colored felt-tip marker pens for $5.98 and these are helpful for color-coding notes and flashcards, which is proven to be beneficial when it comes to memory enhancement. 

• Finally, grab a specialized timer so you can use the Pomodoro focus technique—without having to look at your phone all the time to see the time. I can’t convince you to go totally phone-free during a study session, but I can try. A Pomodoro timer like this one from Meloho ($26.39) will help you structure your study sessions and stay focused on deep work for designated periods of time.