In a blink of an eye, university exams are finished, and the year is over. Every time I open social media I’m bombarded with pictures of Year 13s celebrating last day of school and graduation. It seems like just yesterday we were the ones striking silly poses in our leavers hoodies, and just a week ago that I was in Year 7, rushing home after the bell to watch reruns of Neds Declassified School Survival Guide. But there’s no time like the present, which means no time to get sappy! You guys still have one big hurdle left, exams. Given that I’m still alive after my own exams (though I had to sleep for 13 hours straight afterwards 😴), I thought I’d give you guys some tips on what I found worked for me.
- Study in your room.
Starting off controversially, I know that many people, including most of my friends, would disagree with this point. I used to be one of those people who liked studying at the library but somehow after coming to university I find that I’m most productive at my desk in my room. Some perks of studying in your room include: being able to wear pjs or comfy clothes to study, not having to find a space to sit, and most importantly, not having to listen to noisy people (talking loudly, eating crunchy foods or typing with long nails) in supposed ‘silent areas’ 🤫.
- Don’t limit yourself in the way you take notes.
For some subjects I took notes, for others I didn’t. Sometimes I wrote in a book, sometimes I wrote on refill, sometimes I used pieces of scrap paper to jot down ideas. The way I took notes also depended a lot on my mood at the time. Point is, don’t worry too much about how pretty your notes look, what matters is the information (…but maybe I’m just saying this because my notes never look pretty 😅)
Ugly notes, which too be fair started off as a piece of scrap paper 😅
No lines, no worries 😎
- Use different coloured pens. 🖊
Funny how such a small thing like using different coloured pens, can make a big difference. I personally like to use different colours for general notes, titles, formulas, and important information. This way it’s much easier to read through your notes and find what you’re looking for. Highlighters also come in handy when you run out of pen colours or want to make things extra bold.
Vivid colors for topic headings
- Go for a walk (or any other physical activity that gets you away from your desk).
Probably the thing that helped me get through exams in terms of keeping stress levels low were my daily walks. One of the things I absolutely love about Auckland City is that there are so many things and places to explore. You don’t have to have a destination in mind, just start walking and see where it takes you. 🤷♀️
Viaduct Basin
- Give yourself around 30 minutes before bed to relax.
Another tip to keep stress levels low. I don’t know if you guys get this, but sometimes when I’m really nervous I have trouble falling asleep because my mind goes straight into overdrive. I found that reading a book for 30 minutes (…or sometimes more) before bed helped me let loose and sleep better. Watching YouTube, or playing games on your phone, or just about anything that calms you down will probably work too! 😋
Annd now you guys have my secrets! Hopefully they helped and good luck for exams!
Until next time x
Cecilia