It's that time of the semester – Exams!! So many people dread this period of time, because typically so much of a course’s grade is based on what happens during this short period of time. Some may even wonder why having exams is important. Some thoughts on this may be helpful.

In short, exam periods provide an opportunity to pull together what you have learned throughout the course. This may be done during an in-class exam, a take-home exam, a writing assignment or some other approach. The idea is one of synthesizing the course’s content. The exam period also provides an opportunity for you to learn how to manage all this knowledge, within a relatively short period of time. The skills you learn with this process helps prepare you for challenges that will occur throughout life, whether with your professional work, community activities, family life, or balancing all of these.

During these days of exams, stress is often high. You are trying to balance so much, and you may feel overwhelmed. During the exam time (whether in class or take-home), focus on what you do know. Try to keep the bigger perspective of all that you have learned, and then offer that knowledge in various ways through the exam process. Similarly, don’t belabor the small details; while these are important, it’s not a good use of time to over think a one point question while the five or ten point question goes unaddressed. This means balancing your time; make sure you are spending an appropriate amount of time on the various aspects of the test. If you have a take-home assignment, and a question is worth 10 points, make sure your response is consistent with that. Finally, through the exam process, make sure you are balancing your life – sleep well, exercise, eat appropriately, and think good thoughts. While studying, take breaks, hydrate, go for a walk, and build on the preparation you have done throughout the semester.

For more details about stress management and study skills, see the articles in these two topic areas under the Self-Care tab of COMPASS. The “Making the Grade” article has a segment on exams that may be helpful, and the stress articles offer practical tips for you.

Best wishes for a successful exam period!