It only feels like yesterday that we were in Welcome and there was a massive buzz about the year ahead. And here we are now on the final stretch of the 2024/25 academic year, where does the time go?

But before we reach the holy grail that is Summer, there are the small hurdles of exams to jump over. We appreciate this can be a stressful time for students, so below are some tips and things to consider as you prepare for this hectic period.

1. Revise

Okay, so this one is a no-brainer, and you could even argue it's more of a must than a tip. But we cannot underestimate how important looking at your notes is and working out what your best way to revise is. Do you think better in the morning, or does information stick in your head during a cosy evening? Do you need total silence or would working somewhere on campus with background noise help you to relax? Would revising as a small group motivate you or do you need to work through it alone?

Figure out how you best revise and give yourself enough time to do this before the big day.

2. Organise your study space

Your study space is vitally important when it comes to revising. You need to be somewhere that is comfortable for you and will allow you to get what you need from each session. Remove distractions, anything seems like a good idea when you should be revising. If that novel isn’t there, if your console is tucked away, if your phone isn’t pinging with notifications from the 5000 social media apps, you are more likely to study more effectively.

Make sure the environment is clean and free from clutter. Having a tidy space to work from can make a significant difference and can shift your mindset into one that is ready to study. Know what works for you when you are at the height of motivation for study and always try and apply that.

3. Schedule your time

Plan a schedule that's achievable, something you can fit around your other commitments. If you give yourself enough time, scheduling can mean that you don’t have to cram things in last minute hoping that things stick in your mind. It'll also mean that you can allow for things to take your mind away from revising, like hanging out with friends, going to the cinema, or just having time for you.

A schedule can give you a routine and if you are the kind of person that needs that to thrive, then great news. But the other good thing about a schedule is that it isn’t rigid. If something comes up, you know what else is happening and can rearrange accordingly.

4. Go easy on yourself

We know this can be a stressful time, but you need to be kind to yourself. Pressure can be a good thing if it is at the right level, and it is vital to care. However, putting too much pressure on yourself can have a detrimental impact on what you're trying to achieve. Give yourself regular breaks, go and get some fresh air, and allow your mind to relax (however it does that).

For example, if you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run for 18 hours straight every day for a couple of weeks. It's the same when it comes to studying. Everybody is different, so don’t worry what others are doing. Work out what helps you and be kind to yourself.

5. Eat well

It can be easy when revising to sit in a dark room for hours on end, staring at a screen or notes and eating rubbish or having ready meals for dinner. But the worse you eat, the more sluggish you can feel and that won’t give you the motivation to commit to the time you have scheduled for revision. If you go into a revision session with an already deflated attitude, it won’t be productive. Having that time away from revision to prepare yourself a meal you enjoy will leave you in a more positive headspace and that will be far more conducive to a successful spell of study.

The same can be said for caffeine. If you're drinking far more caffeine than usual, not eating well, and not getting out of the house, your focus levels are more likely to be far lower. Limit your caffeine intake, your concentration should be better, and you should also sleep well at night.

6. Plan exam day

Anything you can do to reduce chance of stress on the day of an exam is worth doing. Don't wait until the last minute to pack your bag only to find out that you have misplaced something you need, do it a day or two before. Know what you need to bring to your exam and pack accordingly. Do you know how to get there? Do you know bus routes in case you can’t use a car? Work out what travel time can be at that time of the day.

It's also important that you allow yourself some time to relax before an exam, if possible. You could plan to go for a walk in the morning if your exam is in the afternoon, for example. The last thing you need when arriving at an exam, is to have had a horrendous and stressful day. Do what you can to eliminate as many stressors as possible.

7. Make every exam minute count

We all know that being a student is far from being an inexpensive few years. So, after spending all that money to study, why not ensure that you make the most of every second you are allocated in an exam. There can be a desire to rush through an exam as quickly as possible so it can be done and pushed to the back of your mind but rather than complete it and then lay face down on your desk for the remaining hour, check what you have done.

We know, it sounds boring, but it can make a difference. Have you read every question correctly? Are you happy with all your answers? Go back to a question you may not have known before, and it may come to you this time around. What else have you got to do? Once that exam is over there is no going back, so make the most of your time.

Most importantly, don't panic and good luck - you've got this.