Your last term at University can be truly magical, and to help you prepare for your exams, the SU team have put together a few tips for you.
For some of you at here Solent University, this will be your final semester before entering the big wide world. From everyone here at Solent Students’ Union, we hope you had a wonderful time, but before you start merrily walking down the road to success, there’s still one more thing University has in store for you, and unfortunately it’s that dreaded ‘E’ word no one likes to hear… Exams! (cue screaming and crying)
From now until the end of May you are going to be hitting a few highs and lows, one day you may feel you can get through without a hitch, and the next you may find yourself in the foetal position after realising-yes, you really do have to go to that exam. But what do you do when everything gets that little bit too much? The important thing to know is you’re not alone. Everyone around you will have the same problems as you, and not just at Solent. Every final year student around the country will be thinking of the same thing; ‘how am I supposed to get this all done?!’ ‘What if it’s not good enough?!’ and ‘where can I get help?!’
There is strength in numbers, and there’s nothing better than toughing out an all-nighter in the library than being in a group. You may even find yourself meeting people who have been on your course the whole time who you never realised were there before, and you realise that you are in the same boat, under the same umbrella of solidarity where new friendships form and old cliques begin to fade out. Your last term at University can be truly magical, and to help you prepare, the SU team have put together a few tips for you:
Firstly: Eat right
You’re probably sick of hearing the same old ‘eat your veg… drink less caffeine...’ when having to deal with your worries. We would also advise the same thing, but planning meals to ensure you have a balanced diet as well as dealing with exams and revising, is a lot. Unfortunately there are just not enough hours in the day! That’s why your SU will be setting up fruit and breakfast stations around the SU, at least your mornings snacks will be sorted! And let’s not forget about the answer to all of life’s problems… coffee! We’ve got that sorted too.
2: Sleep right
If there is one major truth to this article, it’s the importance of getting a getting a good night’s sleep. Seriously, we can’t stress enough how important this is! There’s no use waking up all bleary-eyed just to go and stare and the same page in the library book you were looking at only a few hours ago. So seriously, bookmark it, switch of your computer and put down your phone and go get yourself a good early night, even if it’s only once or twice a week. This way you’ll wake up fully refreshed, ready to take on another day.
3: Take breaks
By taking breaks regularly, you less likely to run out of steam. So go on, Game of Thrones is on! Give yourself a break and r-e-l-a-x.
4: Set targets
If you set targets, you’re more likely to achieve them. By planning out your day including visits to the library, study sessions, even coffee breaks at the SU, you may find yourself knowing more than Jon Snow..
5: Speak to your friends
You may not be going down the pub as often or taking part in your weekly pre-match rituals with the pals, doesn’t mean your friends are there for you! In fact, we can almost promise they feel your pain, so instead of locking yourself away until your final exam is over, turn to your fellow students. As we’ve already said, you’re not alone!
6: Blow off steam
Studying for 12 hours straight can bring huge blows to your social life not to mention your mental health. Taking some time to blow off steam isn’t the end of the world; in fact you may find it rather motivating. So next time your mate Gaz invites you for a cheeky Nando’s because he’s got some monies left on his Nando’s gift card, go for it! And don’t forget to ask for a side order of some top quality banter, Gaz is a ledge.
7: Drink Coffee
Its’ your first exam tomorrow, you don’t have a lot of money and you need to cram in one last study session before it starts. But just before you face palm your mate Gaz reminds you about this totally mint thing the SU is doing called Coffee Club, a place to go and study where they serve plenty of tea and coffee all day. Gaz, you’re a top bloke.
8. Exercise
Keeping active is a great way to relieve stress and improve your mental well-being. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the gym. If that doesn’t appeal to you can find other physical activities that you enjoy and make you feel good. Evidence shows that there is a link between being physically active and good mental wellbeing, making fitness one of the five evidence-based steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. You can read more about this here: five steps for mental wellbeing.
9: Board Games
Bit of a random one here, but reports suggest that board game players, young and old, benefit from the social, mental, and patience-building aspects of sitting down to play them. I
10: Ask for help
And finally: If you’re struggling with your workload but think you’re supposed to bear it alone – you’re not. It’s perfectly OKAY to ask for help. Ranting down the phone to Mum because some numpty has once again taken out that book you need from the library is okay. Emailing your tutor at 3am because you need answers to some random questions that won’t make sense the next day is standard. Asking your friends to help you get through one last all-nighter of revision time before your final exam is expected. Everyone knows you’re under a huge amount of pressure, whether it’s because they have been through it themselves or are going through it currently. So please, don’t bear it alone! And if it does get that little bit too much, our Student Advice Service is here for you too. The service is a place to access free, confidential and impartial advice from our Academic Caseworker on any issue affecting your student experience whilst at Solent.
To book an appointment, you can contact them by either visiting their office in room SU006 (SU, first floor) or drop-in at the Student Advice Centre during its opening hours. You can also email ben.martin@solent.ac.uk, or phone 0238 201 6431.