Midterm and final exams can be an unwelcome thought for students.

While some classes have smaller exams and other assignments leading up to midterms, other classes have little to determine a student’s final grade other than midterms or final exams.

Pitt-Johnstown professor John Mullenix said he administers three or four exams in his classes, including midterms and finals.

Mullenix said that, about a week before an exam, he posts a study guide online for students, and, generally, the students who use it do much better on exams.

In classes like this, where exams are the majority of grades, it makes studying more important than ever.

Pitt-Johnstown professor Robert Matson said that he gives preparation guides to his classes about a week before exams and takes some time in class to review the important information.

Other professors, such as Pitt-Johnstown professor Jeremiah Coldsmith, say they believe this practice is detrimental to students.

“I don’t do study guides,” Coldsmith said.

“When you have a real job, most bosses won’t have you sit through an hour long meeting and then give you a paper condensing the whole thing into the 10 minutes of important material. Finding the important information is a skill students need to develop.”

Despite the opportunities and suggestions many professors propose, some students get by without any special preparation.

“I just look over the information before the test,” Pitt-Johnstown student Amy Bluebaugh said.

In addition, Pitt-Johnstown student Jewlee Romani said she just looks over her notes before midterms, albeit longer than usual.

“For most tests, I just study the day before, although with midterms, I make sure to start sooner, so I can make sure I’m prepared,” Romani said.