All Things University: Preparing for exams

 

Congratulations to all my fellow university students, we have made it to the end of term! But this means that its deadline and exam season. In today's post I want to talk you through how I am preparing for my exams. I did a very similar post to this last year where I discussed the alternative assessment season and how the implemented policies affected you. You can find that post here.

Once again, this years exams will be carried out in a slightly different format, for most students they will be open book 23/24hr exams. Exam specifics will vary from course to course depending on what university you attend so be sure to check with your course convenor for the finer details. 

Revision

With the assessments being open book, I'm carrying out my revision in a slightly different way and I'm prioritising the organisation of my notes. Throughout the course of my degree I have used OneNote to create folders and books for each of my modules, I then separate the notes into lectures and seminars. I need to ensure that all the necessary information is accessible and easy to locate. So over the Easter break, I intend on making a Word document 'book' for each of my modules so I can just go to one document and use the search function to locate key words and phrases. Another stage of planning that is essential to me as a humanities student is to organise my reading list bibliographies. I keep a note of all the reading I do over the year, I reference it using the method for the given style guide (Harvard or MHRA for me personally), then write a brief synopsis. This helps me to quickly identify when specific texts will be necessary for a given task. 

When thinking about revision it might be worth creating a timetable so you can schedule your work in a pattern that fits around your lifestyle. It's crucial to remember to filter in breaks and time to spend with friends and family. I know the current restrictions can make this complicated but even if you talk half an hour each day to go for a walk and chat to a loved one on the phone it's a change of scenery. The Pomodoro technique is one I have used in the past and would highly recommend. It breaks your revision into chunks of 25 minutes with a 5 minute break. My personal tutor swears by this technique and introduced me to it last year - it was a great way to compartmentalise everything I needed to get done in manageable chunks.

Setting up a suitable work environment 

When doing online exams you need to have the perfect work environment, with more people being inside I know this can be difficult, but try revising in different spots and find a place that works for you. For me, I'm at my student house so I have a desk where I always study so I'll be using this. But if you don't have a desk in your room perhaps try a dining table or attempt to make your own study space - as long as it's functional and works for you!  If you're living with other people and are concerned about levels of disruption, try and have a polite conversation and let people know when your exams are. The day before your exam double check all your techy bits, make sure your laptop is charged and that you have a stable wifi connection. If you need any resources make sure you have them out and ready. You want to make sure that the day of your exam is as stress free as possible. 

Coping with exam stress 

Even though exams are online, exam stress and anxiety is still normal. Like I said in my post last year, having a self-care routine is paramount to you taking care of yourself. Knowing your limits with revision is a key factor, instead of cramming it all in at the last minute, work on a gradual basis - little and often works well, especially using the Pomodoro technique. 

I've attached the same photo that I used last year because it summarises everything I want to say perfectly! A positive mindset towards exams will get you through this. Add incentives to your exam journey to make it more achievable. A personal favourite of mine is when I do something I'm proud of - order a pizza! Or when I hit a word target treat myself to a bar of chocolate. The little things like this will keep you going. 

Coronavirus is spreading, let's all play our part to keep our loved ones safe. Remember to observe social distancing guidelines, wear a mask and keep up to date with government legislation. 

Stay Safe xx