Library Exam Skills Support

Effective exam preparation can have a significant impact on your results. With our support, you can develop exam strategies, revision techniques, and time management skills to lessen exam anxiety and enable you to succeed. Exams test more than just knowledge; they allow you to show off your organisation, the strength of your study skills, and your ability to perform well under time constraints. 

Exam Preparation Workshops

To help get yourself in the right mindset to tackle the upcoming exams, why not join our Bitesize Exam Preparation Workshop?

These short 30-minute workshops, delivered by our Academic Skills Librarians, will take you through the essentials of managing your time and revising efficiently. They will cover the following:

  • Taking effective study breaks
  • Different revision techniques
  • Creating a study schedule

To browse and book yourself onto any of our Skills for Learning Workshops, please visit our Skills Workshop page

Time Management - Why does matter?

University study often involves uneven periods of work in which assignment deadlines may all occur at the same time. This can make it difficult to successfully manage your work unless you plan ahead. Constantly working right up to deadlines does not allow you time to think fully about what you have written and may result in your work being of a lesser quality than you intended. Making the most effective use of your time can help you to work to the best of your ability and achieve your potential. 

Below is a short video tutorial from the Skills for Learning manager but you can also find this video and other relevant resources on the Time Management webpage

Drop-in Support

Alongside our regular academic skills drop-in sessions, we running workshops to help you build your time management and revision skills. You can find and book these on our workshop webpage.  

If you’d like to speak with someone about how to start building a revision schedule, or for other general exam queries, come along to one of the drop-in sessions mentioned above.

Preparing for Exams - Our 'Top Tips'

Here are a few top tips to be considered when beginning to think about preparing for your exams

  • Scope the task ahead so that you are aware of all the factors affecting your examination.
  • Attend final lectures and take note of what your lecturer tells you about your assessment. Remember - your lecturers will be creating these exams, so don't be afraid to ask questions by email or in person.  

  • Work out how much time is left and set yourself a timetable. Be aware of your prime time for revision and use it to do tasks that require concentration.
  • During your non-prime time (ie: when you are unable to concentrate as well) do more administrative tasks - test yourself, write out flashcards, record yourself, and listen back.
  • Timetable in as much as you can - social plans, breaks, work commitments - so that you know exactly what time you have left.

 

Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have available. Accept that you will temporarily have less social and free time - it won’t be forever.

When revising, build in regular breaks every 20-50 minutes. Your brain will absorb much more information this way and your revision sessions will be more productive.

  • Commit to being uninterrupted for that time period, with no distractions. Concentrate on your planned revision activity and try not to procrastinate or be sidetracked.
  • Set yourself a specific task for the session - be realistic about what is achievable and at the end of the session walk away and do something else.

Use a variety of revision techniques to keep yourself interested. Some techniques will fit better with some subject areas or exam types or will be more effective for you personally.

You can learn more about these in our drop-ins (see our schedule below)

Discover more academic skills support from the library

Visit Skills for Learning
  • online skills workshops
  • study guides
  • referencing support
  • digital skills
  • and much more!

More exam and assessment support from the library