Exams

studentphil

randomtask wrote: »

I agree with melancholly regarding doing what works for you (or has worked well previously) - a friend of mine swears by mind maps, I think they're unstructured and make it too easy to lose focus, especially if you're actually using word associations. They're not that good for numeric based subjects either.

My tip - might sound an obvious one - when revising, write things down like you are answering exam questions. Trains you to think about the question, rather than memorising passages of text or names, facts etc.

I also think it's easier to work off recognisable visual cues, so your own handwriting is arguably better than the print found in textbooks.

Last of all, and I'm not deliberately trying to sound like I'm auditioning for The Apprentice or anything, I would never go into an exam I've known about for ages thinking "I might fail but there's always the resit". Too negative even for a pessimist like me. I'd go in positive and be thinking "I'm going to pass"...there are various levels of pass (1st, 2:1, 2:2, etc) before you get to a fail after all...

Okay, I am going to pass might be more positive.

dmg24

studentphil wrote: »

University exams are strange as they seem to put terror into people compared to GCSE or A levels.

Strange because I found completely the opposite.

At school I had pressure and expectation from every angle, but at uni it was up to me (suppose I had learnt that it doesn't matter what other people think about me).

studentphil

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You're really not one of nature's optimists are you, Phil?

If you start from not wanting anymore than a pass, then you will not be disappointed if you don't get a first, but if you go in wanting a first and you get an under second then you will be very disappointed.

ffeindadifyr

studentphil wrote: »

University exams are strange as they seem to put terror into people compared to GCSE or A levels.

I couldn't disagree more!!! I was in fits of terror due to my A-levels but loved my University Exams - more due to the great teaching and preperation at Uni and lack of at School!

studentphil

ffeindadifyr wrote: »

I couldn't disagree more!!! I was in fits of terror due to my A-levels but loved my University Exams - more due to the great teaching and preperation at Uni and lack of at School!

Oh right, at uni no one tells you what do or guides you so you really do go into exams half blind as far as I can tell.

randomtask_2

Uni is about you being self motivated to learn - rather than the forced mandatory learning placed on you during school for your GCSEs.

You shouldn't be spoon fed, otherwise, you'll never show an ability to be a self starter - and employers will want people who can show this.

studentphil

randomtask wrote: »

Uni is about you being self motivated to learn - rather than the forced mandatory learning placed on you during school for your GCSEs.

You shouldn't be spoon fed, otherwise, you'll never show an ability to be a self starter - and employers will want people who can show this.

A bit more guidance at uni would be nice.

Self motivated is fine but sometimes you can be overwhelmed by which materials out of the masses about you need to read.

BigBouncyBall

this is a really interesting moneysaving thread.

Phil, seriously mate, how much time do you waste here? This is for student money saving not student chat, if you want that, there are plenty of student forums for you, or discuss in the money savers arms.

Lets really try and keep this forum for money SAVING?!

melancholly

studentphil wrote: »

A bit more guidance at uni would be nice.

Self motivated is fine but sometimes you can be overwhelmed by which materials out of the masses about you need to read.

any chance this thread could stay on coping with exams and not go back (yet again) to the fact that you feel like you need more help and most of the rest of feel that you haven't really asked for it in the right places.

studentphil

Moneysaving

What is the best way to avoid failing your exams and having to pay the resit fee?