From a fellow Coventry University student

As the assignments come to an end, the exam season is just beginning. It’s easy to panic or feel overwhelmed when it comes to uni exams, so here’s 5 tips to help you through! 

1. Proper sleep

It might be tempting to stay up all night revising, but you actually need sleep to help you retain information! Not only that, but having a regular sleep schedule will be useful when you need to get up bright and early for your exams. Avoid the late night coffees and energy drinks, keep well hydrated, and get tucked in with plenty of time before your morning alarm.

2. Prepare your equipment

Exam halls have a few rules you need to stick by, so it’s best to be prepared. You’ll definitely want to bring a pen, plus one spare. You might also need a pencil, ruler and eraser. If you want to bring water with you, you can do so, but it’ll need to be in a clear bottle and have no label on it.

Calculators are only allowed in certain exams, and there are restrictions on what kinds of calculator you can use, so make sure you check these well in advance. Get these materials ready beforehand and your entry into the exam should be a smoother process.

3. Know your timetable – When, where, what

You should receive your exam timetable in advance, which will detail the time and place of your exam, as well as what module it is for. Knowing these will help you get to where you need to be, and on time. It’s also helpful to know which module your exam is for, so that you can double check the code matches when you turn the paper over, then you’ll know you’re in the right place.

4. Studying – Take a break! 

When it comes to revising, it can be tempting to try and steam through all of the material in one go, but your brain needs some rest time to help process what you’ve learned. Sleep is great for this, but you’ll also find that shorter breaks at regular intervals during study sessions will help you remember more, as well as give your eyes and brain time to refresh, give you an opportunity to stretch and rehydrate, and lessen the chance of a headache.

5. Read instructions very carefully! 

Exams can be a strange disconnect from your usual workflow. When you turn your paper over, you’ll be met with a list of instructions that you might be tempted to overlook so you can dive right in, but these can actually be incredibly helpful and make a world of difference to your exam experience.

Some exams require you to choose a question, rather than answer all of them, or some exams have specific instructions on how to format your answers or lay them out in the booklet(s). It might feel like a waste of time to read this extra information, but it could save you a lot of struggling.

Not every exam is the same, so be sure to check the guidelines supplied by your course beforehand so you can best prepare yourself. Just remember to keep calm, and do your best!