London’s days are getting longer and warmer. A perfect time for a break, right? Here is some bad news – this also means that your final exam season at LSE is drawing near. Of course, whether or not you will have spring exams depends on your individual modules. Some of you may have take-home assessments – that is, assessments that you need to complete and submit within a period longer than 24 hours – instead of exams. Nevertheless, the fact that you’ll have to revise and stay on top of your modules does not change regardless of your mode of assessment. So here are some of my personal do’s and don’ts when it comes to studying over the spring break.
Do: Plan your month(s) ahead of time
All LSE students will be able to access the central exam timetable in early March. If you have some take-home assessments this year, your department or course convenors will confirm the due date for you in advance. Once you jot down your key dates in your calendar, create mini-deadlines yourself for each of your modules. For instance, you may want to revise one to two topics per week if you have to take a timed essay-based exam on a full-year module. This accounts for any readings you need to catch up on to fully understand the topic, practice drafting an outline, and actually time yourself to gauge how much you would be able to write under exam conditions. You may or may not have to revise everything you have learned from the course as some essay-based modules do provide you with a variety of essay questions you can choose from. Nonetheless, you won’t have time to leave the essay-based exam revision until the last minute due to its vast range of topics. Nor do you want to rush on revising for whatever module has the latest due date. Try to balance your study schedule evenly across various modules so that your future self won’t suffer from tough burdens on a particular day after taking a full week’s rest.
Do: Try to maintain a regular daily schedule
Some of you might be travelling home over the Spring break, while some others may stay in London. Whatever your case, make sure to devote some time to study every day. Sure, you won’t have 9am morning classes, nor will you have to stay in the library until late evening. No one will be able to work 24 hours a day – we all need to rest. But that doesn’t make you totally free from the responsibilities of preparing for your assessments. If you have a study plan in mind, try to keep it up as much as possible. You will have to take morning and afternoon exams during the assessment period. Completely changing your biorhythms will not benefit you when you actually have to shine.
Don’t: Push yourself too hard to where you might hurt yourself
Your physical and mental health matter the most. Assessment preparations will lose their worth if you end up being ill. But just in case you are seriously ill on the day of your exam, seek available options that fit your situation and immediately let the School know. Yes, exam results and degrees are important, but don’t let them drain you both physically and mentally.
Don’t: Compare yourself with others
Sometimes, you might want to meet up with your friends to take a break from your studies. If they are your course mates, you might find yourself discussing how everyone has been progressing on their exam prep. On such occasions, don’t compare what you’re doing with what others are doing. I can’t deny that Spring break is an exam prep time period and an anxious time for all – make sure you maintain or boost your self-confidence. Remember, you’re not competing against each other. Do your best, and believe in what you have done so far this academic year.
