As the end of the year is approaching and teaching is now over, this period is often associated with exams and assessments. As a student, I understand that handling exams can be stressful and difficult, between revising and dealing with multiple deadlines. Here I share with you some tips I have learnt from my previous years spent at university, hoping that these can help you to carry out your exams with ease.
- Plan your revision.
One of the key points to survive the exam period is to be organised, especially if you have a lot of work to complete in a short amount of time. So, planning your revision is a solution that will allow you to be more efficient in what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Scheduling your week allows you to have an overview of the work you must complete and easily distributes this work evenly throughout the week. Ensuring your work is scheduled, lets you focus every day on a specific topic or task, knowing that the rest of your work is finalised, or will be, in the next few days. It will help you to organise your time according to your priorities as there may be some topics that you would like to spend more time on. Writing down everything you must complete, is also a way of reducing the mental pressure of exams whilst helping you feel less overwhelmed.
- Diversify your ways of learning.
For those who will be taking exams, you may need to learn and retain a lot of information, numerous lessons, or chapters. Sometimes, even after weeks of revision, you may feel that you still know nothing or that your brain is a real sieve. If that is the case, you can try to change your method of studying. Try to find an alternative way of memorising to stimulate your memory in a different way. If you have an auditory memory, you can recite aloud or record yourself and listen to your lessons instead of reading them (and they even might be already recorded on Minerva!). You can also watch videos on the topic, do quizzes or simply talk and make a questions-answers session with your friends and classmates. It allows your brain to deal with the knowledge in a different way and may help you to improve your revision.
- Change your environment of study.
The exam period is also often synonymous with spending a lot of time at the same place, such as your bedroom or your desk. For many, spending hours or days in the same place becomes boring, off-putting and a little bit demoralising. So, another idea to avoid these feelings and boost your productivity is to change your environment. Being in a new place can help you to become more motivated. If you have a flat, it can be going from your bedroom to your kitchen. If you would rather spend some time out of your living space, you could opt for spending some time in a café, a coworking area or the library (university or public one), which are now open almost 24/7. It is also a way to give rhythm to your day. Of course, this depends on you and on where you feel the most comfortable!
- Keep going to your weekly activities.
It is something we often hear (which becomes slightly annoying when you feel overwhelmed by your work) how it is really important to continue carrying out your regular weekly activities during the exam period. If you already have some form of sports training scheduled during your week, please don’t skip it! You will only feel better afterwards as sport will help you take a break from your studies, disconnecting from your work for an hour or two. It will also aid your brain to get oxygenated, which will have a positive impact on your work, allowing you to develop new ideas and be more productive. So, go to your training if you are already engaged in a society. Otherwise, you can go to the swimming pool, to the gym, go running or take a long walk.
- Get some fresh air.
Continuing from my fourth point, walking is the perfect opportunity to leave your workspace and get some fresh air. As we are studying inside most of the time, it is important to get some fresh air and not always be confined in a small space. Going outside will also contribute to oxygenating your neurons and freshening your ideas. Enjoy the comeback of the spring weather while on a nice, long walk, or making the most of the sun by laying down in a park or visiting a bar or restaurant to chat at a terrace with some friends.
- Take time for yourself (without feeling ashamed).
I know during exam season that it’s hard to detach work and revision from the rest of your life. But try not to forget your wellbeing, as it is what will help you when surviving the exams. Go to a sport training session if you are interested in fitness, start a new TV series, or make yourself a nutritious dinner that you haven’t created before. Allowing yourself to enjoy these small moments of relaxation will help improve your mental health and let you take a break from revision. Also, don’t overwork especially if it’s late and you’re tired as sleeping is crucial to guarantee motivation the following day and promote your drive to revise. So, my advice here would be to be indulgent with yourself and listen to what your body needs during this period.
- Ask for help if needed.
Finally, if you’re not feeling well, you’re too overwhelmed, or feeling down, please reach out for help. If you need more time to finish your assignment, contact the university or your tutor and request an extension. If you’re emotionally unwell, you can contact the university help and support service to book a wellbeing Drop-In session. It is free and confidential. Please don’t stay alone and isolated. Friends, family, the university, and other public associations are here to help you, no matter what the issue is.
So, here are my few tips to survive the exam season and pass your exams, hopefully without too much physical or mental stress. Good luck with your work, the period will be over soon. Last thing: trust in yourself, it’s hard but you got this!
Link University of Leeds help & support service: https://www.luu.org.uk/help-support/about-luu-advice/
Written by: Alice Lardry
Edited by: Eloise Barnes