Finals Frenzy: AISG Grades 9-11 Share Their Study Secrets, Stress, and Strategies

As final exams approach, students in grades 9, 10, and 11 are starting to prepare for their toughest tests of the year. From study habits to locations, everyone has their own way of tackling this challenging testing period. From students who haven’t started studying a week before the exams, to students who started months in advance, AISG has it all. 11th graders have their finals on May 22-26, and 9th and 10th graders from May 28-30th.But how do they really feel about the upcoming exams? What study tricks do they swear by? And where do they find motivation when the pressure mounts?

For some, like 9th grade Tony Y, preparation is all about efficiency. “I start studying about a week before exams, spending 10-15 minutes each day doing practice questions—usually from past worksheets or AI-generated problems,” he says. “Then, the day before the test, I review everything again.”

Grade 9, Dani, who promises not to sacrifice her sleep for her studies, says this to prevent burnout:  “For my final exams this year, I’m very anxious as I’ve never done anything like this before, but also excited to get them over with! I think preparation and how people word how the exams will go contributes a lot to my feelings for the exams, I’ve never heard anything good about them, which definitely makes me feel more anxious.”

Some juniors, who’ve gone through finals before, have some hard-earned advice for underclassmen. “It’s time for THE academic comeback,” Says Raaghav, an 11th grader. “I use websites like Revision Village and SaveMyExams to access past paper questions. When actually studying, I rely on notes and online textbooks if there are any,” He adds.

Some, like grade 9 student Patrick, take a brutally honest approach: “I skim through materials and mark what I forgot. Then I read those parts over and over until I can explain them—or until I get so frustrated I slap myself.” His study routine: “Maybe 15 minutes a day on average, unless it’s math. Then I’ll grind for hours… but only if I’m in the mood, which is rare.”

Grade 10 student, Audrey, who claims to have cracked the code to stress-free studying. “I’m actually feeling confident,” she says, “because I’ve paid attention in class and my teachers give great feedback.” Her secret weapon? Turbolearn AI, which creates personalized flashcards and study chats. “100% recommend it,” she insists. While she can pull 4-hour study marathons on good days, she’s adamant about two rules: “Always study at my home desk where I’m comfortable, and never skip sleep—what’s the point if you’re dozing through class?”

Staying motivated is essential to keep studying for long periods of time. Audery enjoys fruits from her mom, which provide her with a sweet relief from the hard content, while Raaghav has his mother to make sure he doesn’t stray too far off task while studying. Starting sooner rather than later has helped him keep anxiety at bay, and he recommends doing this for younger students.

From Dani’s and Audrey’s sleep-first philosophy to Patrick’s focus on memorization, it’s evident that at AISG, there isn’t a single approach to preparing for finals—rather, each student finds their own method to succeed.