Top 5 Engineering Study Hacks That Actually Work During Finals Week

• Chris The Grad
• 0 Comments
• December 6, 2025

By: Chris the Graduate 

Engineering finals hit harder than most, whether it’s thermodynamics, physics, calculus, or material science, the workload doesn’t play around. Over time, I’ve figured out some study habits that actually make a difference during finals week, especially for STEM-heavy classes.

Here are the top five engineering study hacks that have consistently helped me get through some of the toughest exams:

1. The “Teach It to a Five-Year-Old” Rule

If you can’t explain a concept simply, you don’t really understand it.
Before an exam, I try to explain the main ideas out loud like I’m teaching a kid:

• What the formula means
  
• Why do we use it
  
• What real problem does it solve?
  

This exposes the gaps in your understanding instantly.

2. Build a Personalized “Equation Sheet” (Even If You Can’t Use One)

Most engineering students collect random formulas from textbooks, slides, and homework. But what actually helps is making a clean, organized cheat sheet:

• Key formulas
  
• Definitions
  
• Example problems
  
• Units and constants
  

Even when professors don’t allow cheat sheets, making one boosts memory because you’re processing the information in your own words.

3. Practice Problems → THEN the Notes (Not the Other Way Around)

Most students study by reading notes first. It feels productive, but engineering exams are built on problem-solving, not memorization.
So instead:

• Start with small practice problems
  
• See what you don’t remember
  
• Go back to the notes only for what you missed
  

This avoids passive studying and forces your brain into “application mode.”

4. Use the “Three-Level Practice” Method

Break practice problems into levels:

• Level 1: Easy warm-up problems
  
• Level 2: Homework-level
  
• Level 3: Exam-style problems
  

Jumping straight into exam-level questions without warming up can crush your confidence. Progressing through levels builds momentum.

5. Study in Short, Intense Sessions

Engineering content is heavy. Long sessions make your brain check out.
Try studying like this:

• 30–45 minutes of focused work
  
• 10–15-minute break
  
• No phone
  
• No multitasking
  

You’ll retain more and burn out less.

Bonus Hack: Study the Mistakes, Not Just the Material

When you get something wrong, don’t just fix it, figure out why you got it wrong:

• Misread the question?
  
• Plugged in wrong units?
  
• Forgot a step?
  
• Didn’t understand the concept?
  

Understanding your mistakes is twice as valuable as getting something right.