No one enjoys under-achieving, and there’s no shame in some not-so-friendly competition between peers.
If you’re keen not to be left behind your course mates then cast an eye over our handy exam hints.
What are they good for?
Despite the wild rumours flying around, your first batch of exams is actually quite important. A poor performance may not get you thrown out of university at this point, but if you don’t make the grade then you face the prospect of yet more work.
'I spent a summer in the library revising for re-sits,' says Chris Illingworth who's studying Archaeology at the University of Leicester. 'It really wasn’t much fun. I was on my own for most of the time, while my friends were all up to much more interesting things at home.'
What’s more, ever increasing numbers of employers now ask for a copy of your exam transcript, along with a copy of your degree certificate when you apply for work.
A sketchy performance record might harm your chances of getting the job you really want. Similarly, your academic record is thoroughly checked if you want to pursue a Masters degree or PhD.
All in the preparation
Listen closely - preparation is very important, it can make or break your chances. There’s no easy way of getting through exams other than to go in well armed, and if you start early you’ll be spared the last minute panic.
More importantly, you’ll be able to spread the work over a longer period - so no 24 hour revision marathons!
'Having learnt from earlier mistakes, I now give myself at least a month to prepare,' says Chris, 'that way, if things don’t go exactly to plan, there’s time to get back on track.'
Making a revision plan is a good way to help your studies run smoothly but don’t make it an exercise in procrastination. A colour coded masterpiece may look pretty, but a fortnight spent creating it is a little excessive.
Remember to stick with your timetable through till the end of exam time, but give yourself some free time. A chance to relax now and again will help your performance. All work and no play makes jack a dull, not to mention very stressed, boy (or girl).
Play to your strengths
Decide which topics to concentrate on early on - you’ll avoid the rush at the library and hopefully nab the best textbooks.
There’s more than a chance that one of your strongest subjects will come up. Also, make sure to pay some attention to the subjects you're not so keen on.
Even the best laid plans can fall through and a backup strategy may pull you out of a sticky situation.
Make sure that you take a look at past exam papers. These might give you an idea about what questions will come up and you’ll also get a feel for how the questions are worded.
Failure to actually answer the question set is one of the most common mistakes made at exam time, but if you’re well versed in examination-speak this shouldn’t be a problem.
Most importantly…
Don’t panic. It’s easier said than done though. All of us suffer some amount of stress leading up to exams, but if the whole affair is causing you unreasonable anxiety, don’t hesitate to visit your student support service or talk to one of your tutors.
There’s no shame in airing your anxieties and they’ll be happy to give some guidance, after all, they want you to pass.