Exam survival tips from our alumni
January assessment period is upon us and we know for some of you it might be your first taste of university examinations, others may be seasoned pros by now. Whatever stage you're at some advice and guidance from those that have been in your position may be comforting.
We spoke to some recent alumni to get their tips for surviving the assessment period. Check them out below:
Victoria (BSc International Relations with Spanish, 2025) now working as Graduate Proposal Manager at AtkinsRéalis
Use active recall and explain the material to someone else. I found it to be a great way to check your understanding and make it stick.
Usman (BSc Economics, 2024) now working as Commercial Banking Graduate Trainee at NatWest Group
With exam advice, the first thing I’d always recommend is starting early - it allows you to spread things out and make your revision as efficient as possible. It also helps to spend as much time as possible covering questions from class tests and mock papers. This may be more relevant for some courses rather than others, but I often found questions in the real exam to closely resemble questions covered off in seminars and lectures.
In the days and hours before exams, try and relax. Being stressed and cramming can make it so easy to forget things and experience ‘brain fog’ because you’re overwhelmed. Having a structure, even if it’s just a loose one, and staying hydrated can help with this.
Finally, during the exam, manage your time well - don’t spend too much time on one question, and leave enough time at the end to check everything through. Just one second look can pick up several simple mistakes that are first overlooked.
Farzanah (BSc Psychology in Education, 2025) now working as Graduate Management Trainee at University of Birmingham
My top tip for exam season is to make the most of your lecturers’ office hours, they’re put in place to support you. And it’s a great opportunity to ask questions to the person who will often be marking your work.
Rayane (BSc Psychology, 2020) now working as Trainee Clinical Psychologist at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Make the most of the library and study spaces on campus. They were invaluable during my time at Birmingham as it made my studying easier! Especially making a day of it with friends and having breaks together on campus.
Leah (BSc Biological Sciences, 2024) now working as Graduate Management Trainee at University of Birmingham
- Group revision sessions are your friend - grab some course mates, book a library room and study together. Work through questions and challenging topics as a group. But be strict with your focus and be selective on who these study sessions include (avoiding distracting friends).
- Attend the revisions sessions your lecturers put on and don’t be afraid to ask questions and stay behind to speak to the lecturers - that’s the point of these sessions!
- Use practice questions and check the assessment marking criteria. If you need more questions to practice, ask AI to write you some based on content you are revising.
- For closed book exams, use key words, mnemonics and acronyms to help remember key information.
- For open book exams, organisation of your notes is key. Make sure you know where your notes are located to save time in the exam and group notes together (e.g. thematically, chronologically, based on the lecturer or subject). Organisation of notes may not feel like revision but it really can help in open book exams.
Camila (MSc Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2025) now working as Student Support Executive, Institute of Risk Management
Keep your priorities straight, if you are easily distracted flee to the library and use apps that block social media before it steals your entire afternoon. Be gentle with yourself too, step outside for a bit of fresh air, even if it’s cold enough to question your life choices.
For more assessment advice and support check out the UoBe Ready pages and the Guild of Students Academic Support Hub.