Exams: A survival guide
Probably most of it, though. Image/Disney.
Exams aren’t the end of the world, but also, they feel like they are. But they’re only apocalyptic for a few hours, and we’ll all still be here at the end of them, so that’s nice. I promise that you’ll survive and that it’s even possible to thrive. Here are a few ways you can help your transcript by helping yourself.
#1: Watch your lectures. Admit it, you’ve missed a few, or a lot, or all of them. However, as many you’ve missed watch them as soon as possible. Put them on 2x speed if you want and pause to take notes. If you have a ton, they can be hard to get through in just a day or so – but make sure you’ve watched them all before your test or exam. Your question might contain a fun surprise from the content in Week 11, and trying to bullshit your way out of that just isn’t worth it.
#2: Eat. Yes, it’s important to eat nourishing and healthy food, especially during a stressful study period. But fresh food is expensive, and it expires in about twelve seconds, and I bet your flat has some Indomie or a Cup-a-Soup lying around. The important thing is to eat, full stop. Your brain just can’t function properly otherwise: even just a single hard-boiled egg in the morning could transform a B+ into an A-. This can get tough on the day of your exam, where you might feel very sick at the thought of eating anything. Try some mild buttered toast; when the nausea passes in an hour or two, you’ll thank your past self.
#3: Find the right study playlist. Many prefer absolute silence, which can prevent you from accidentally playing Dua Lipa on full volume in a Silent Study Zone. But don’t underestimate the impact of music on the pace and quality of your work. Test out a few different genres and see how they affect your mindset. ‘Different strokes for different folks’ really applies here. You might feel more comfortable with a Slipknot album than with “lofi hip-hop radio - beats to relax/study to”, and that’s great. A word of caution: don’t listen to a movie in the background. Your prep will take way longer and I guarantee that it will make you hate the movie.
We’ve all relaxed and studied here. Image/ Lofi Girl.
#4: Talk things through. Even if you have a large network of friends, studying can be really isolating, especially for an exam, where you’re required to go at it alone. In your preparation, prioritise discussing the material you have access to. If you have a friend in class, chat to them about the trickier parts; this can be all you need to put you back on the right path. You can also utilise UC’s support services. And here’s my absolute favourite way to do this: talk with a friend who isn’t in the class, and knows nothing about it, and ask them to let you explain the content to them for a while. Then get them to ask questions. This can help you figure out how well you’ve grasped the materials, can fill in the blanks you might not have thought of, and could even get your friend interested in the topic.
#5: Practice some hand stretches and get a good pen. Writing by hand for hours is brutal, so go into the exam room with some gentle wrist circles and finger exercises memorised. They really do make a difference. And having the right pen makes a huge difference – jumbo pens can be easier on the hand. As you might’ve learned from a particularly painful exam, running low on ink makes you push harder onto the page, which seizes the hands up like nothing else. Stock up on a box of new pens with loads of ink. Just maybe not a fountain pen?
#6: Go in with confidence. Have that Student ID ready, find your seat, get out your pen and maybe a calculator, and just go for it. One of the best things about exams: once you’re in there, there’s no more prep you can do, so you might as well let all your worries go. Whatever happens, happens, so try your best and walk out with your head held high. Oh, and write your name on your exam paper… please.
