Tips and Tools to Help University Students Prepare for Exams
12th August 2024
However, if you believe in yourself and work smart, it is possible to turn that stress into success!
Here are some tips and tools to help you achieve your best and ace your university exams.
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“To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail.”
Yes, I know it’s cheesy, but the old adage is true: To do well in your university exams, you do need to do adequate preparation! Before you crack open the textbooks, put some time into planning a study schedule to ensure that you've covered everything by the time your exams roll around.
Create a colour-coded study planner—a Google calendar will do the trick perfectly, or if you want to go retro, do it on a sheet of A3 paper—and map out study periods for all of your different subjects/exams.
Prioritise carefully, giving yourself more time to get to grips with subjects you’re perhaps less confident with. It’s far better to have more time than you need than to be caught in a panic.
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Start early and give yourself plenty of time.
It’s no surprise that regular study sessions spaced out over a longer period of time are generally much more successful than last-minute cramming when it comes to exams.
Starting your revision early also allows you to check that you’ve retained the information after several days or weeks, in which case you’re much more likely to be able to recall it during an exam.
How many hours should you be revising? Well, that’s up to you - but a good guide is around 15-20 hours a week for around four to five weeks. You may wish to ramp this up during the final days before the exam, but if you are adequately prepared, you may not need to!
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Consider different study techniques.
Some people prefer to study alone, others like to collaborate and form study groups with classmates who can support and quiz each other, and hold each other to account. A mixture of the two can work well.
Many students find that flashcards are a useful tool for learning in preparation for university exams. Summarise key information on digital or physical cards, and then try to recall the salient points until you are confident in doing so.
The great thing about flashcards is that they are portable, so you can take them with you anywhere and whip them out to learn when you have five minutes here and there - waiting for a bus or an appointment.
Make sure you get your hands on past exam papers, usually available in the university library or student portal. These can help you prepare yourself for the format of the exams and understand the kind of questions you may come up with. Simulating exam conditions to complete the papers can help you prepare for the real exam, feel less anxious, and manage your time better when it matters.
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Breaks are important!
When you’re in the final weeks and days before university exams, things can get intense. When creating your study plan, ensure that you give yourself enough time to cover each subject as well as giving yourself breaks so you don’t burn out.
The Pomodoro technique for managing study breaks is popular among students.
In brief, how this works is that you study for 25 minutes, take a five minute break and then resume. After two hours (four rounds), take a longer break of about 30 minutes.
During your breaks, take a walk, listen to music, or do some yoga—whatever relaxes your mind. Have a drink and a snack so that you are refreshed and ready to carry on. Your brain will thank you for it.
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Create your own personal perfect study environment.
Everyone has different learning preferences, so be honest with yourself about how you learn best.
The university library is probably your best bet if you are easily distracted and require silence to study.
If you prefer the hustle and bustle and background noise of a cafe, there are plenty of establishments you can choose from that welcome university students who are also paying customers.
If you want to study at home, ensure that your room and desk are clear of distractions (which may mean tidying up!), you have good natural lighting, and you follow your plan—including regular breaks—so you don’t overwork yourself into a panic.
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Eat healthily, stay hydrated, sleep well and exercise.
At the risk of sounding like an overbearing parent, you need to take care of yourself! Caffeine and high-sugar snacks may make cramming easier all night, but it’s far from ideal.
A healthy mind needs a healthy body. Try not to snack on processed and unhealthy foods, instead eat proper nutritional meals. Make sure you drink enough water to keep yourself properly hydrated and prevent headaches, which can affect your learning.
A good sleep schedule and regular exercise, such as walking or swimming, will keep your body healthy, and you will, in turn, find it easier to retain information.
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Minimise those stress levels.
Studying for university exams can get a bit much at times, even for the most confident students. Try to keep a positive mindset and realise that your grades do not ultimately define your self-worth. You can do your best but no more, and if it all goes a bit wrong and you do need to take resits, then it’s not the end of the world.
If you are feeling stressed, try breathing techniques, meditation, or yoga. YouTube is a goldmine for this kind of thing. Just half an hour out of your study session can make all the difference to your mental well-being and make you calmer and more focused.
If you start to feel seriously overwhelmed, many universities have counselling services available. It’s always better to talk to somebody about your worries than to try and ignore them.
In conclusion, studying for university exams has the potential to cause stress. Still, if you are prepared, start your exam revision early enough, and look after your physical and mental well-being, you will have the tools you need to perform well. Good luck!
