Exam preparation

The location of your on-campus assessment will be published on your Examination Timetable. Depending on the timing of your exam, it is wise to leave plenty of time for travel and parking. You may also find it helpful to familiarise yourself with the room in advance.

There is lots of great advice and support for those embarking on online assessments, including a pre-assessment checklist and Online Assessment Toolkit, available on our submitting assessments online page.

Although it can feel disheartening not to achieve the result you hoped for first time around, your summer assessments are an excellent opportunity to show your tutors (and yourself!) what you are capable of. Staying academically resilient during your summer assessments can be a helpful strategy, and some students find it useful to adopt a growth mindset.

Remember that just because you haven’t achieved success in this particular exam yet, it does not mean you can’t, or won’t, this time around. For more information on the power of mindset, and how being academically resilient can benefit your studies, explore our Grow Your Academic Resilience Toolkit.

Your seven steps to success:

1. Identify your examination/assessment dates and times. It’s often a good idea to work backwards from your exam dates and allow good time to revise the content sufficiently, so you feel confident to apply in an exam scenario.
2. Write a full list of everything you need to revise. Try to be specific and remember to break it down into manageable revision chunks. At this point try and prioritise where your strengths lie and what you might need to spend more time focusing on. A simple colour coding technique can support this and we’d recommend using a traffic light system (red, amber, green) to consider what you know confidently (green), needs some attention (amber) needs a lot of focus (red).
3. Identify the time you have to revise. Consider the days and weeks you have available. It is often useful to specify hour blocks. There is a lot you can achieve in a short time and by having shorter revision slots, you can factor more of them in around your other commitments.
4. Block out any existing commitments. This might include lectures and seminars and any work, family and/or social commitments. There might also be times when you know you would not be productive so avoid adding slots to your plan during these times. Remember to be kind to yourself and be sure to dedicate time to rest, exercise and your wellbeing.
5. Set a revision start date, choose a specific day to launch your revision and prioritise subjects or topics based on their complexity and importance and when you will first be assessed on them.
6. Schedule your revision sessions and populate a plan with the duration and frequency of study sessions for each topic, incorporating intervals for breaks to maintain focus and prevent burnout. You can read more about useful revision strategies in the section below.
7. Display your plan prominently. Ensure your revision plan remains visible and accessible by writing or printing it out and displaying it somewhere where you can’t ignore it! On the fridge, in your room or notifications on your phone can all serve as a visual reminder of your study goals and schedule.

Your team of Student Advisors have created some example study timetables you can download (or print) and use to help create your own study or revision plan. For each timetable they have also provided a completed example to demonstrate how they have used them effectively.

Revision strategies are techniques and approaches you can use to review and reinforce your understanding of a topic, usually in preparation for sitting an exam. A good revision session can often include techniques such as planning what you need to revise, organising and summarising your key concepts, practicing past exam papers, creating flashcards and quizzing yourself.

There are different stages to revising and your goal is to ensure you have a thorough understanding of your material and are well-prepared to answer your exam questions effectively.

• Planning: Before you begin any revision it is important to read any assessment criteria carefully, find out from your tutors what topics you will need to revise and, if possible, you could even revisit past exam papers to give you an idea of what you might expect. You will also need to plan out the time you have available, ahead of your exam, in which to revise and figure out what you can realistically cover in that time. Creating a revision timetable can be an essential study aid and can help you plan your time effectively to maximise focus and avoid overwhelm or burn out.

• Revision Plans: A well-designed revision plan breaks down revision tasks into more manageable chunks. It makes clear exactly what you need to focus on and when you will cover it. Avoid any labelling of study periods as ‘revision’ or ‘study’ or even using phrases such as ‘Business revision.’ Aim for more specific labelling such as, ‘Business Marketing Mix’, ‘End of Life Care Communication’ or ‘ODP Surgical Sutures’ to ensure a systematic approach to your revision. This will also help you to avoid overwhelm. You might wish to use a revision planner such as the one available on Get Revising which can help you to manage your time more effectively, give you a clear idea of what subjects and topics you’ll be revising each day and help you organise a healthy and happy study-life-balance.

• Encoding: When planning your revision it can be helpful to know if you will have a choice of topics, or if you will need to revise on a wider range of subject areas. When revising, encoding is the process of transforming information from its initial form into a format that can be stored and recalled when you need it. This could be through notetaking, summarising or creating a mind map. These techniques can help you review the topics you understand the most and identify any areas you are less sure of, which can then help you to make decisions on where to prioritise your time.

• Consolidation: This means taking new information and integrating it into your long-term memory. This can be done through spaced repetition, rehearsing, or making connections with content you are already familiar with. There are lots of useful apps available that are great for practicing recalling topics with memory aids such as quizzes or flashcards.

• Retrieval: This is the act of accessing information from your memory. This might be during the revision process through strategies such as self-testing and active recall, or in the exam itself when it’s time to put your understanding to the test.

Taking the time to prepare how and where you are going to revise can help put you in the right frame of mind for studying. Don’t forget that you can also book a study room in Catalyst to work alone or with friends.

• Make it your own: Creating an environment that feels personalised can enhance your motivation to study. Consider decorating your study area with inspirational quotes, plants or artwork to make it more comfortable and inviting. You might also like to play music specifically for studying with, and there are some great apps such as BrainFM.

• Minimise distractions: Choosing somewhere quiet (like the top floor of Catalyst!) and silencing notifications on your phone or desktop can help eliminate unnecessary distractions. You might find it helpful to let others know you are revising too so you can ensure uninterrupted focus. It’s also a good idea to only sit down with the things that you need – like any books, notes or stationery, as well as some water and healthy study snacks on hand.

• Get organised: Having a tidy workspace can help maximise your focus. Try and keep your lecture notes orderly by using folders and organisers, as well as taking a few minutes to tidy up after each study session. For more organisation tips, you can visit the UniSkills Getting Organised page.

• Create a routine: Having a consistent study routine can help you stay disciplined with your revision. This might include setting specific study goals or breaking your content into manageable chunks. You can find goal setting inspiration through apps such as Pinterest or view our guide on setting SMART goals. Making a weekly planner can also help with dividing your time between modules and personal commitments to ensure you’re studying happy with a good study-life balance!

Procrastination can be a significant barrier to your exam success. We know how tempting it can feel to want to put off dedicating time to your revision, so we’re sharing some of your Student Advisors tried and tested strategies to help boost productivity and make the most of your time:

• Use technology wisely: You can help reduce procrastination that comes from mindless scrolling by using apps like Mindful Browsing. These tools can help you stay focused and prevent the urge to check your social media by setting limits and access restrictions – really helpful even if your will power is not!

• Time management techniques: Explore implementing effective time management strategies to maximise your productivity. Consider using the Pomodoro technique, which involves working in short bursts of focused activity followed by brief breaks. This method can help maintain concentration and prevent overworking. 
  
• Prioritise tasks: Take the time to plan and prioritise your tasks. Use techniques such as a priority graph to visualise and organise your workload. By identifying and focusing on the most important tasks first, you can help avoid getting overwhelmed.

• Take a break!: Remember it is important to also include time for rest and relaxation in your study schedule. Overworking can lead to burning yourself out and even cause you to get less done. Consider checking out Box of Broadcasts (BoB) for access to free on-demand TV and radio.

• Look after your wellbeing: If things do begin to feel a little too much there is lots of support available on the Student Wellbeing pages, including free, unlimited access to Togetherall. Whether you’re struggling to sleep, feeling low, stressed or unable to cope, Togetherall can help you get support, take control and feel better.

• Make sure you have all the essential information about the logistics of your exam, including:
  • Date / Time: Read all your pre-assessment information carefully and confirm with your tutors if unsure of any details.
  • Location: Find out where your exam will take place, and if you have the time and opportunity have a practice run to the location so you know what to expect on the day.
• Discuss with your tutor, well in advance, if you are unsure of what to expect or to clarify any content you do not understand.
• If you require exam modifications make sure you’ve let the Inclusion team know by the current deadline. Even if you received modifications prior to studying with us you still need to complete exam modifications with Edge Hill to continue receiving similar adjustments at University.
• Consider attending a UniSkills Effective Exam Preparation Workshop.
• Explore our exam preparation checklist and start building your own unique revision intentions to keep you motivated.
• Find out what you can bring with you – most exams will allow a bottle of water, but you will need to check with your tutor about dictionaries, source texts and notes.
• Ensure you get a good night’s sleep and eat a brain-fuelling breakfast on the morning of your exam.
• Set up an alarm, reminder or notification to ensure you arrive prepared and on time for your exam.

• Plan your travel and arrive comfortably in advance of your exam start time. It is a good idea to do a trial run, or review your transport options, before the day, especially if you are travelling to an unfamiliar location.
• Write your name and student number on all the answer sheets as required. Remember that the invigilator is there to help you, so do not be afraid to ask for extra sheets or materials.
• Ensure you are not missing any questions on the reverse of the page, or that any pages are stuck together.
• Read your question carefully (more than once) to avoid any misinterpretation.
• Check that you clearly understand what is expected of you – how many questions do you need to answer, and in how much depth?
• Keep an eye on the time. If necessary, consider how many marks each question is worth and distribute your time accordingly. Try and stick to the time you set yourself for each one.
• If you’re struggling, focus on the questions you can answer first to boost your confidence and help you relax.
• If it is an essay-based exam, it is important to plan and have a clear structure to your writing – visit the UniSkills Academic Reading and Writing page for more support.

• What is the most effective way to revise? When revising, make sure your strategy matches the type of learning you need to do. For example, memorising a list of vocabulary requires a different approach to preparing for answering an unseen essay question in a written exam. This is why it is really important you are clear on the format of any assessment you are due to take and set aside time to familiarise yourself with what is expected.
• What if the question I have prepared for doesn’t appear in the exam? Take a moment to consider whether what you have revised is ‘hidden’ in another question, or whether you can apply the knowledge you do have by thinking about how it relates to the wider subject area. While ultimately you can’t control what appears on your exam, you can control how you prepare. For example, if you are given a set of four possible questions it is sensible to study so you can say something about all four of them.
• What should I do if I’m running out of time during an exam? Assess which questions offer the most marks and divide your remaining time accordingly. While it is advisable to try and get an answer down for everything, depending on your time constraints you may also wish to consider the questions you feel most comfortable answering. If the clock is really ticking, it still might be worth attempting a ‘skeleton answer’, where you jot your response in note form to try and score at least some marks.
• How can I manage going ‘blank’ in an exam? If moving on and coming back to the question later is not an option, have a pause (put down your pen if it helps) and try and think back to your lecture or visual revision aids. To jog your memory, you may find it useful to make a mind map or write down everything (on a scrap piece of paper) that you can remember about your topic.
• What should I do if I start to panic during an exam? Stop and take a few deep breaths or a sip of water. If you’re struggling to compose yourself, let your invigilator know how you’re feeling so they can offer their support. If you have a tendency to panic in exams, it is best to let your tutor, or the Inclusion team, know well in advance to be informed of any exam modification options available to you.

Ace Your Assessments runs biannually ahead of the key assessment periods at Edge Hill. This UniSkills campaign aims to support you as you prepare for and embark on your assessments. As with all our campaigns, it is co-designed and co-delivered by our team of knowledgeable Academic Skills Advisors and Student Advisors. If you have exams or assessments coming up, we recommend visiting the Ace Your Assessments campaign page to find out more about our targeted support.

Our team of award-winning Student Advisors regularly share peer-to-peer help, support and guidance across our Library and Learning Services Instagram and Blog. As current Edge Hill University students, they have first-hand lived experience of preparing for and sitting exams and are ready to share their top tips and strategies for success.