Studying for English Finals

It is impossible to compare studying for a Biology exam or a French exam to studying for a British or American Literature exam. I will hear individuals who tell me that they are "cramming" for their Chemistry final just a few days before the test. Some of them have unfortunately waited until the last minute to study for the final and have to, for example, memorize twenty formulas and more than fifty terms. I certainly cannot do that, can you? This sort of studying habit is almost impossible to manage while studying for an American or British literature exam.

When studying for an English exam, it is best to start reviewing after the first class, or as soon as you are aware of what texts will be covered or read. Otherwise, cramming will not help you and will only make you stressed out. Also, do not rely on "cheats" such as cliffnotes or sparknotes, those are only acceptable when you have read and understand the text and just want a quick reminder. There is nothing that can effectively replace reading the text.
A good friend of mine was studying for an English literature final, and this person believed that if they are able to go over and skim through five short stories, they would be all set. This however was not the case.
I, for example, had read all of the texts except two and I was still a bit hesitant on some of the identification and fill in the blanks in regards to quotations and characters from the texts. Later after the exam, this person felt awful because they were so unprepared.
Remember, the only way to learn anything effectively, especially understanding a text, start off slow and work on it gradually in order to take as much in as you can. Also, don't forget to take notes! The more you focus, the more you retain!