Finals are just around the corner – and you know what that means…
– Long nights and countless hours trying to figure out what you’ll do with your life if one certain final doesn’t make the grade you wanted.
– Dreading to even look at your phone to look at the time – how is it 1 a.m. already!?
– Finally picking up your phone to only see a reflection of a zombie-like creature with ranch dressing on the side of their cheek.
A moment later you realize that’s you in the reflection. Yikes!
We can’t help how you look, but we do have a list of 5 awesome apps that can help you get through finals week a little easier. These 5 apps can help you keep track of your notes, get together with classmates to study, and ultimately ace that final exam.
1
. Evernote
What it does: Advanced, cloud-based note taker
Cost: Free
Available on: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, Web app
Who makes it: Evernote, Inc
Evernote has personally helped me “Hack” my way through finals. It lets you type notes or record them right in the app, then categorize your notes in a way that makes sense to you.
Plus, you can use the notes app to collaborate with fellow students, so you guys can benefit from each others shared knowledge.
You can access your notes on multiple devices, so you can go over those while you are getting to class.
2. Quizlet
What it does: Flashcards for studying all topics on-the-go
Cost: Free
Available on: iPhone, iPad, Android
Who makes it: Quizlet LLC
Quizlet harnesses the power of crowd-sourcing to give you an extensive collection of flash cards, quizzes, and games to help you learn and study.
Within seconds you can find a pretty good study guide by searching by topic. Not all study guides are created equal, but with a little time and effort you can find good ones that give you a quick overview that you can take anywhere.
Not a fan of other people’s notes? Quizlet also lets you create your own study set with your notes. And if you’re feeling generous, you can even share it with your less organized classmates.
3. Allcal
What it does: Social calendar app
Cost: Free
Available on: iPhone, iPad, Web
Who makes it: All Calendars, LLC
Studying with classmates is a great way to get a quick refresher on things you completely missed during class. Even if your professor was impossible to understand, chances are one of your fellow students can explain it.
But how do you figure out a studying time that works for everyone? That’s where allcal comes it.
Allcal is a free calendar app that makes it easy for you to share calendars and collaborate on events with a group of people. Create a study calendar for your entire class where each student can add when and where they’re going to study. Then you can simply open Allcal and figure out which study event works best with your schedule, and add it to your own personal calendar.
BONUS TIP: Try to study with people who are smarter than you.
4. Duolingo
What it does: Fast, easy language learning
Cost: Free
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Who makes it: Duolingo
When it comes to learning a language, memorizing vocabulary and verb tenses will only get you so far. To really master a second language you need to be immersed in it.
We couldn’t find you an app that sends you to Spain for 3 months, but Duolingo is the next best thing.
The free app teaches you different languages through a series of minute-long lessons and challenges involving reading, writing, and speaking. It starts out pretty easy, then gets progressively harder. While the app alone isn’t enough to make you fluent, being able to whip out your phone and practice will certainly help you get a better grade.
For the week leading up to your exam, launch the app at least a few times a day – while waiting for the bus or to get your coffee at Starbucks. Use it more and more leading up to your test, and you’ll get your brain more used to the foreign words and sounds. A lot of language learning is subconscious, so just giving yourself more opportunities to practice on-the-go will help your overall comprehension.
BONUS TIP: Watch a movie or listen to music in the language you’re studying the night before the test, so you’ll really be in the zone.
5. WolframAlpha
What it does: Equation solver and search engine
Cost: $2.99
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Who makes it: Wolfram Group LLC
Any questions that you might have while studying on subjects such as Math, History, Science, Art, Sports, and Entertainment.
Any and all questions just type into the search bar. Use WolframAlpha to help with research papers.
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