If you’ve ever been enrolled in a college class where the teacher placed a lot of emphasis on the exam grade, you understand the definition of stress. It doesn’t seem fair that a student can work so hard through the semester and potentially fail because of a poor score on the final exam. In this case, failing isn’t an option. It doesn’t matter how hard your major is, you’ve got to pass. Consider these majors and the best ways to breeze through your exams in these classes.

1. Chemistry
Chemistry is a tough major and it involves a lot of equations, math and science. In order to effectively pass your exams in this major, it’s important to be able to rehearse the equations in your sleep. This means you’ve got to know them like the back of your hand. Make it a habit of practicing and learning the equations within the right context on a daily basis. If need be, get extra tutoring or visit the teacher during office hours to make sure you understand the material in its proper context.

2. Nursing
Nursing can be difficult because there’s a lot of pressure to make sure a patient is receiving the right medications and proper care. Your future patients are counting on you to pay attention and pass your exams. Nurse practitioners have it even harder since they have a lot of different medications they can actually prescribe. Whether you’re enrolled in an online family nurse practitioner program or going to a physical school, it’s a good idea to utilize the power of flash cards. From the top of the semester, begin to use flash cards for the different medications and what they’re used for. When you can easily recall the information in a visual format, you’ll have a better chance of passing the exam.

3. History
History exams might seem boring to those who can’t retain information regarding the news. However, it’s important to be creative when studying history. History exams involve a lot of facts. Things that already happened are easy to recall once they’re consumed like stories. Treat each history lesson like a story that you need to be able to share with others. Rewrite it in a way that’s interesting and palatable for you.

4. Engineering
Engineering is a challenging major, but for those who enjoy math, engineering can be very rewarding. Engineering exams primarily involve strengthening the problem-solving muscle. A great way to handle these types of exams involves the use of practice exams. Take a look at some of the questions that are typically on an engineering exam. Do your best to understand the answers and the context for arriving at the answer.

Even though these study tactics apply to these four majors, any major can relate to at least one of these methods. One of the best ways to pass any exam is to avoid cramming the night before. In fact, as soon as you get the syllabus, begin studying. This way, you’ll be prepared and ready for anything that comes your way.

Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She graduated from the California State University, Sacramento with a degree in Journalism. You can find Hannah on Twitter.