Posted by The Law School
19 March 2024Depending on your studies to date, you may be very familiar with online exams, or these might be quite new to you. In addition the number of exam assessments you have will vary considerably depending upon your particular programme and module choices. Whatever your experience so far, you can draw on your existing skills such as using your knowledge in new ways, responding to unseen questions, working under time pressure and writing clearly.
Below are some tips for effective exam preparation which are useful for all students.
You can only revise something you already know! Before you start your exam revision, make sure you have completed your basic learning – all the required reading and tasks set during the course of the module – to make sure you can then revise effectively.
Revision is important for all exams, even ‘open book’ exams. If in the exam you need to be checking your materials continually, or worse, finding or learning things from scratch, you won’t do as well as you could. Your revision also helps you gain sufficiently broad and deep understanding of your course to be able to identify relevant issues and avoid major errors.
Your notes need to work for you, so experiment with different styles. Do they assist you in checking points, identifying key materials, reminding you of areas that might (or might not) be relevant? Are they well-organised and flexible, to help you to respond thoughtfully and constructively to a new question? (You can’t show your understanding or wider skills by reproducing pre-prepared answers or ‘cutting-and-pasting’ material.) Do they include your sources? (You don’t need to give full references/citations in an exam, but you still need to use materials appropriately and attribute sources.)
Practicing tasks, such as the questions set in seminars and other formative work, can be helpful for developing your understanding and your skills. It won’t be much use without self-evaluation and reflection though. Try re-reading your work as if you were the marker: does it say what you wanted to say, or is some of the meaning still in your head, not on the page? Where might you need to work on your understanding, or depth of knowledge, or skills?
Think about exam day, so you are ready to do your best. Although the exam itself can be completed within a short timescale, online exams give you some flexibility. Think about what time of day you work best, whether you would benefit from breaks, when your workspace will be quietest. Seek advice if you need help with time management. Once the exam is released, don’t panic! There is nothing in there that the course has not prepared you for, so take a deep breath (and a short walk if you need to) and then get stuck in.
And remember there is a wide range of support available for you. Visit the University’s wellbeing pages here. The education welfare team page is here and you can email the team at Amory: welfare.amory@exeter.ac.uk.