Now that you have completed your Fall semester midterm practice exams, you should have a clearer understanding of what to expect on your final examinations in December. Some of you may be wondering what steps you may take now so that you will be prepared for those final exams.

Even before you receive feedback on your midterm practice exams, you may begin to do several things right now, in order to learn from the midterm practice exam experience and to better prepare for the Fall semester final examinations. The Law School's Academic Achievement Program provides multiple opportunities for you to work on developing certain skills that will enhance your learning and preparation for class and final examinations. Those resources include:

The Academic Achievement Program 1L Dean's Fellow Study Groups

If you have been regularly attending your AAP Dean's Fellow Study Groups, continue attending. All weekly sessions have been carefully planned to systematically help you develop the necessary foundation on which to build the skills that will assist you in successfully completing law school examinations.

If you have not regularly attended, you are strongly urged to begin attending now, and to regularly participate for the remainder of the semester. Dean's Fellows will soon begin the formal exam preparation sessions, which will continue until the AAP Dean's Fellow Study Groups end this semester. Those upcoming sessions will provide several opportunities for students to work through sample hypothetical exam questions and will include lessons on careful reading of exam questions, organizing exam answers and writing out practice exams.

The schedule for the Dean's Fellow Study Groups can be found at the AAP web site, http://www.law.miami.edu/aap/.

The Academic Achievement Program Writing Center

Law School essay examinations require competence in conveying analysis and conclusions in clear, concise written form. Students who seek assistance with practice and development of writing skills should take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Academic Achievement Program Writing Center, located in room 209A. Students may schedule appointments or simply "drop in" to the AAP Writing Center to individually meet with Writing Dean's Fellows, who provide assistance with organization, structure, style, grammar and composition. In addition, students may, on their own initiative, obtain copies of practice exams at the Law Library Circulation Desk and, after completing written answers to those exams, may bring them to the Writing Center. There, Writing Dean's Fellows will review students' written answers and provide feedback on the written product. Writing Dean's Fellows will not review nor comment on issues of substantive law, but will provide assistance with organization, structure and composition.

The schedule for the Writing Center can be found at the AAP web site, http://www.law.miami.edu/aap/.

Beyond the resources offered by the Academic Achievement Program, there are other things you should do in preparation for final examinations:

Take advantage of feedback provided by your professors

Faculty members will provide some form of written, individualized feedback on your practice exam. They may also offer sample or model answers, "grades" (which do not count in determining your final course grade) and review sessions following the midterm exam. Some may also schedule appointments with students to go over the exam.

Attend all classes

Of course, you should be in regular attendance at all classes, well prepared for class, taking notes and participating in class discussions.