College Exam Survival
Tips and tricks to help prepare for exam season
Coming to the end of my degree, I have done my share of college exams to varying levels of stress and success. They can be daunting and stressful but I have put together some things I’ve learned along the way and some things which I wish I knew, or did sooner to make life that little bit easier. Some of these won’t work for everyone so find works for you and try to stick to it.
Do the work before it’s too late
Every semester I promised myself I would start the work early and stay on top of it, but I didn't. This is a habit I only started when I went into final year. The more you do before reading week or the exam week the better.
One of the best ways to stay on top of the work is to concentrate during the lectures. This may seem obvious but it's something most of us aren’t very good at it. As simple as it sounds it will make life easier. By focusing for the hour or two of class the less time you will need to spend going over things you didn’t pay attention to. Lectures can be boring and it is tempting to switch off or skip it completely, but think of the time you are freeing up for yourself. Put the phone away, close the online shopping tabs and take notes. To help with this make sure you are going to class prepared!
Another simple thing to do is to read over your lecture notes after each class or at the end of each day. This will help you identify anything you may have missed but will also help keep things fresh in your mind. As the weeks go on, keep reading back over everything and you won’t be learning it for the first time the night before the exam. It will also free up your time to do the things you enjoy.
Study methods
Unfortunately, I don’t have the perfect way to study but by keeping on top of it will really help in the long run and will help create good habits. One of my favourite ways to study is meeting up with friends to work on assignments and projects together. I like to chat to others and get their input on things. I find by having someone explain something difficult in simpler terms it’s easier to get my head around what confuses me.
There are a few different ways you can study for exams. As mentioned above, the sooner you start good study habits the better. Start by making a study schedule/timetable and map out what and when you’re going to study, plan out your assignments and assessments and see when your busiest weeks will be. This can help you plan your days better and make room for things outside of study and college work. This was something I wish I had started sooner but when I did it made things much more manageable!
College exams can be very different from ones you may have taken before in school, and the subjects may be new too. I recommend reviewing past exam papers and mock questions to help familiarise yourself with the format. I have found this really helps me, especially when you can go through them with others and chat through the questions out loud.
If you’re really struggling for study motivation the Pomodoro Technique could help you. It recommends 25 minutes work and 5 minutes break which you repeat 4 or 5 times before taking a longer break. It’s a great way to get yourself focused for a short period of time and if you find you can work a bit longer you can do that. This is one technique I use a lot when I am feeling overwhelmed or I just can't get my head into an assignment.
Source: https://luxafor.com/pomodoro-technique-time-management-life-hack/
Although it is important to focus on your college work and make time for study, it is just as important to make time for other things like seeing friends, playing sports, and going out. Having these other outlets will help you because studying 24/7 isn’t good for your mental and physical health. Having a work/life balance is crucial. Starting college and making new friends can be a nerve wracking experience for some but make sure you check out our blog about making friends.
Last minute prep and during the exam
If you stay on top of your work throughout the semester then the lead up to the exams shouldn't be too stressful. It should be a time to revise everything and not learn it all for the first time.
Leading up to the exams, try to get enough sleep. All-nighters won’t help you. Try to get the 8 hours recommended sleep because the more sleep you get the better you will perform. Also try and eat proper meals. It's not always easy on a student budget but see the blog on how to stay healthy in college for additional tips. Drink plenty of water and avoid too much caffeine. These are all simple things, but they are always the first to go when exams arrive.
On the day of the exam make sure you arrive on time or if it’s online, make sure you have a good connection and log in early and have your laptop set up. Be prepared, make sure you have all the things you will need - pens, calculator etc. During the exam stay calm, don’t look around to see what others are doing or how much they’re writing. If online, find a quiet space, put your phone away and turn off any notifications on your laptop. Focus on your own exam and use your time wisely. Use your lecturers guide to allocate enough time to each question. If you’re finished early read over it and make sure you have answered as best you can and fix any mistakes.
After the exam don’t over analyse what you did or didn’t do and don’t compare yourself to others. There's always that one person that asks what you got for question 5 and can remember what they wrote word for word. I avoid these people. Go do something you enjoy – go for a run, walk, swim or whatever you like to do. If you have another exam the same day take a short break, eat a good meal and get some fresh air and refocus for the next one.
Exams are a big part of college, but they shouldn’t be something to be scared of. There are plenty of supports out there to help you during exams so reach out and seek further advice or help if you need to. The worst thing can happen is a bad grade and there are plenty of successful people who failed exams. “I failed in some subjects in the exam, but my friend passed it all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft” – Bill Gates.
If you find any of these tips useful or have any tips you would like to share, put them down in the comments below.
