While exam season may feel intimidating, there are some simple tips you can follow to feel prepared and approach each exam with a healthy outlook. Keep reading to hear our top five tips to get through your exams with as little stress as possible.
1. Make your wellbeing a priority
It’s easy to get caught up revising for hours on end, but you don’t want to end up feeling burnt out on the day of the exam. While revising, make sure you’re giving yourself time to eat, sleep, stay hydrated, and put your mental and physical health first. If your exam is online, give yourself some time to get up and stretch or have a meal if possible. You’ll feel much better for it, and it will make all of your exams seem more manageable.
2. Read the questions carefully
There’s nothing worse than realising halfway through your response that you’ve misread the question! Although the urge to immediately start writing may be strong, it’s a good idea to take a minute and think about the question you’re answering before you begin. Considering why the question has been asked and what knowledge it requires you to demonstrate is a great place to start.
3. Take stock of what you know
We’ve all had that dreaded moment of panic looking at an exam question and feeling like you don’t know a single thing, but it’s likely that you know more than you realise. Even if the question may feel daunting, think about the background knowledge you have and try making an outline of everything you want to discuss in your response. Exams aren’t written to catch you out, they’re a chance for you to show your understanding of the material. You’ve put the work in, so take a deep breath and show off!
4. Keep the rules in mind
It’s important to review the policies on academic misconduct and know what constitutes violations of the rules. Students who break the rules can face serious ramifications, even expulsion. The guidance applies to online exams as well, and texting or communicating to other students about exam content is not allowed. You can see more information from KCL here.
5. Keep things in perspective
Exams aren’t everything, and it’s important to remember that your results in no way define your worth. These weeks can feel hectic and at times overwhelming, but soon enough you’ll be on the other side of them. Meanwhile, make time for yourself, be kind to yourself even if things don’t go quite as planned, and remember that there are lots of opportunities throughout the year to show how much you’ve learned.
Good luck to everyone taking exams this term! Be sure to check out KCLSU Advice if you need any support.