1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

The International Student’s Guide to American University Finals

The International Student’s Guide to American University Finals

October 25th, 2021

By David White

If you are new to the American university experience, you have no doubt heard from faculty or fellow students about the importance of finals. Final exams are the tests or evaluations that are given at the end of each semester, and in the American education system, they can be very important.

Regardless of the country in which you were raised, you are likely familiar with some type of educational testing—like the ACT or TOEFL. In certain countries, students take several day-long exams in order to graduate or to move forward to the next year. These types of assessments are similar to the final examinations you will take at an American school in that they are both an evaluation of what you have learned and how well you have learned it.

While you may have some experience with academic testing in your home country, the format, length, and expectations of American final exams will likely be new to you. For instance, unlike the assessments you may have taken in the past, your semester finals will generally be given during a single class period. For more information on American university finals, continue reading below.

Purpose and format

As previously stated, the purpose of a final examination is to evaluate how well you have absorbed and understood the materials—and their interconnections—in a given course. For example, if you were to enroll in a class on English literature, it is reasonable to expect a final exam that discusses the authors, pieces, and themes that you have explored during the course. Each class will have its own final examination (assuming the professor opts to administer one).

It is important to note that all universities are different. As such, they may employ different formats for their final exams. For instance, the final examination for a course in modern American history may be a single essay or 100 multiple-choice questions. A class in organic chemistry may culminate in the presentation of results for an experiment that you have conducted throughout the semester.

The format of a final exam is often dictated by the school, the professor, or, in rare cases, by the students. Whatever the format, your instructor should inform you in advance about what to expect and how best to prepare for this assessment. If he or she does not, ask.

Grade significance

Given that you will be tested on your comprehension of the course and its content, you can expect final exams to be an hour or more in length, as well as important to your overall grade in the class. The degree to which your exam score will affect your course GPA will, again, depend on the professor and/or the university. Your score on a final examination may count for as much as 25 or 50 percent of your total grade. If you have been doing well all semester, this may not be a concern. If, on the other hand, you have been struggling or averaging a low B or C grade, your final exam could have a significant influence on your class GPA. If you do well, it could dramatically improve your final grade, but if you do poorly, it could drag your grade down even further.

Study strategies

Because final examinations are intended to measure your familiarity with class material, studying for one might be easier than you think. After all, you should already have the aids you need, like articles and books, and you have already discussed the content at least once during the semester.

The best way to start studying for your final exam is to know exactly what it is you are studying for. Once you know the format of the assessment, where it will be given, and what is expected of you, you can form a plan. Gather all your notes and previous assignments. These are items that you or your professor felt were important at one point during the semester, so there is a strong chance that they will also be important for your final examination. You can likewise review content according to the course syllabus. This document indicates what the professor intended for you to learn, which suggests it could arise on your final exam.   

Follow us:
Written by

David White

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the article titled Finding His Place at Mission College
Finding His Place at Mission College
Main image for the article titled Chemical Engineering at the University of Arizona: A Student View
Chemical Engineering at the University of Arizona: A Student View
Main image for the article titled Study English near Boston, Massachusetts!
Study English near Boston, Massachusetts!
Main image for the article titled Loans for Students Seeking Master’s Degrees
Loans for Students Seeking Master’s Degrees

Check Out These Schools

Fairfax Christian School

Fairfax Christian School

$40,000—$45,000 Year

Secondary/Boarding English Programs
Contact
Saint Charles Community College

Saint Charles Community College

$5,000—$10,000 Year

Certificate/Short Term 2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs Bachelor Degree
Contact
American University – International Accelerator International Accelerator

American University – International Accelerator

$50,000—$60,000 Year

Bachelor Degree Certificate/Short Term Masters
Contact

Related Stories

Understanding the American Education System

Main image for the article titled Understanding the American Education System
Canada’s Education System

Main image for the article titled Canada’s Education System

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for Find the perfect student housing with Unilodgers

Find the perfect student housing with Unilodgers

Choose an entire apartment, a studio, a shared room, or a private room, with 24x7 assistance from Personal Student Advisors. Book Now!

Read more
Partner service logo for Morning Brew

Morning Brew

BECOME SMARTER IN JUST 5 MINUTES. Get the daily email that makes reading the news actually enjoyable. Stay informed and entertained, for free.

Read more
Partner service logo for Uniplaces

Uniplaces

Uniplaces is an accommodation provider with a large choice of verified rooms, entire flats and residences. The platform offers an easy, fast and safe way of booking a place to live. Check out the thousands of properties in the best cities and book a...

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

I read the information found on StudyUSA.com and it helped me understand the process of applying in the USA. I have also talked to a StudyUSA counselor and she helped me with the things I struggle with like my essay for college application. StudyUSA give me the information I needed.

Anais Gardere Haiti

StudyUSA enabled me to create a well thought list of the kind of University I wanted to attend. In doing so, I found out what was most important in making my decision and used it to guide .

Nkoli Mungabo Zambia

I have had the opportunity to peruse the Study in the USA website. As a result, I can attest to it as a very useful resource. The MatchMe tool that helps match students with programs in the USA fascinates me the most.

Clement Okolo Nigeria

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    العربيـة English Español Français Bahasa Indonesia 日本語 한국어 Português Русский ภาษาไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 简体中文 繁體中文

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2022 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.