{"id":1392,"date":"2025-01-06T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1392"},"modified":"2025-06-20T12:05:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T11:05:34","slug":"preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-1-revision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/06\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-1-revision\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing For In-Person Exams Part 1: Revision"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s normal to feel nervous about in-person exams, but the right approach to revision can go a long way towards helping you feel more confident.<\/p>\n<h3>1: Gather all the necessary information<\/h3>\n<p>Anxiety often arises from uncertainty, so before you get started, make sure you have all the practical information you need about each exam. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When is each exam and how long is it?<\/li>\n<li>What is your room and seat number?<\/li>\n<li>Can you take in notes?<\/li>\n<li>Will you need to use a laptop or write by hand?<\/li>\n<li>What can and can\u2019t you have with you at your desk?<\/li>\n<li>What if you need to go to the bathroom?<\/li>\n<li>What types of questions will you have to answer and how long should your answers be?<\/li>\n<li>What about references?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You\u2019ll find the details of your specific exams on <a href=\"https:\/\/samis.bath.ac.uk\/urd\/sits.urd\/run\/siw_lgn?STU\">SAMIS<\/a> and general exam information on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/topics\/exams-and-assessments\/\">Exams and assessments webpage<\/a>. For questions relating to your course or unit, check the information you\u2019ve been given by your tutors and if in doubt, ask.<\/p>\n<p>Write everything down so that you can refer to it later. Then you can put any practical worries aside and focus on revising.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2: Be strategic about how you revise<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As well as clarifying <em>what<\/em> to revise, think carefully about <em>how<\/em> you\u2019ll do it. Some important things to consider are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The kinds of questions you'll need to answer (essays, short answers, multiple-choice, calculations)<\/li>\n<li>What your tutors are looking for in your answers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make use of any information your tutors have given you, including looking at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/library\/exampapers\/index.php\">past papers<\/a> if these are available for your subject, and ask if you\u2019re unsure. Once you\u2019re clear about what the exam will involve, you can figure out how best to prepare.<\/p>\n<p>For an in-person exam, you\u2019ll need to memorise a certain amount of information. Revising material at intervals, mixing up topics and testing yourself will all help your learning to stick.\u00a0Your tutors aren\u2019t expecting you to have learned every detail of every topic by heart; they want to see that you can apply, analyse and evaluate information and ideas, so don\u2019t spend hours simply copying lecture notes. Expand and elaborate on them by applying theories to examples, brainstorming pros and cons, exploring different arguments, comparing, contrasting and making links. Creating concept maps, tables and other diagrams can be a good way to visualise these connections.<\/p>\n<p>Building rich, interconnected knowledge structures in your mind will help ensure that the ideas start flowing when you open the exam paper.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3: Train like an athlete <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Athletes prepare for big sporting events not just by thinking about what they\u2019ll need to do but by actually doing it. Treat exam preparation this way and you\u2019ll feel much more confident, especially if you\u2019re worried about maintaining your focus or writing by hand.<\/p>\n<p>Use past papers or devise your own exam questions. Then practise answering them in a fixed timeframe. Replicate exam conditions as closely as you can, by putting your digital devices away, using pen and paper, and working somewhere with low-level background noise.<\/p>\n<p>This approach to revision may require a bit of effort, but it really pays off. For example, it helps you to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Train your brain to focus and filter out distractions<\/li>\n<li>Train your hand to write<\/li>\n<li>Consolidate and reinforce what you\u2019ve learned<\/li>\n<li>Identify gaps in your knowledge<\/li>\n<li>Decide how to allocate your time during the exam<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you find this hard at first, start small and gradually build up to answering longer and more difficult questions.<\/p>\n<p>Any effective training regime includes rest, sleep and a balanced diet, and the same is true of revision. Look after your wellbeing and you\u2019ll feel much more positive and motivated. Your brain will function a lot better too.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Other revision strategies<\/h3>\n<p>Each person will have their own preferred approaches to revision, but make sure you find techniques that help you to grasp, consolidate, and retain the knowledge required for your programme. These could include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Flashcards:<\/strong> Summarise key concepts on small cards or using a flashcard app and use these as memory prompts. This can be a productive way to spend \u2018dead\u2019 time when you can\u2019t do much else, for example, when travelling on a bus<\/li>\n<li><strong>Memory aids:<\/strong> Using diagrams, mnemonics and memory hooks can help to remember specific facts. You could put them on post-it notes and stick them somewhere visible, such as around your room or house<\/li>\n<li><strong>Past papers:<\/strong> Timed practice with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/library\/exampapers\/index.php\">past papers<\/a> (available from the Library for some subjects) can help you understand what is expected of you in the exam and develop your exam technique. It's very useful to know the format of the exam and the weightings of the questions, but always check with your unit teacher for up-to-date information about your upcoming exam<\/li>\n<li><strong>Group studying:<\/strong> Some students find it helpful to meet with friends to discuss work and test each other. If you're having difficulty understanding a concept, talking it through with a course mate may help<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recording:<\/strong> Try recording yourself talking through your notes, and then listen back to it a few times to help you remember it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition you can talk to the teaching staff on your course. Your unit teacher(s) may run revision classes, offer individual guidance, or recommend helpful reading material.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5: Get the right support<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There are lots of people in the University who can help you feel more confident about your exams.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/guides\/support-to-prepare-you-for-exams\/\">Skills Centre's exam support<\/a> includes exam-focused Skills for Success workshops and self-access resources<\/li>\n<li>The Academic Registry\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/topics\/exams-and-assessments\/\">exams and assessments webpage<\/a> contains information on rules and regulations, alternative arrangements and much more<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/professional-services\/student-support\/\">Student Support's Wellbeing Service<\/a> is always available to help with anything that's bothering you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Never be afraid to ask for help or advice. It shows you can take the initiative to solve problems and identify the information you need \u2013 valuable skills for life after university.<\/p>\n<p>While we can never guarantee the outcome of an exam, we <em>can<\/em> control what we do to prepare. With the right information, strategies, practice and support, you\u2019re much more likely to succeed.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, you\u2019ll be developing many of the skills and qualities that employers are looking for \u2013 time management, organisation, resilience and independent learning skills to name a few.<\/p>\n<h3>Other useful resources<\/h3>\n<p>For more tips on revising effectively, see:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/04\/11\/six-memory-hacks-to-supercharge-your-revision\/\">Six memory hacks to supercharge your revision<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/12\/02\/top-ten-tips-for-exam-preparation\/\">Top ten tips for exam preparation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s normal to feel nervous about in-person exams, but the right approach to revision can go a long way towards helping you feel more confident. 1: Gather all the necessary information Anxiety often arises from uncertainty, so before you get...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1962,"featured_media":1402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[91,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-skills","category-exams"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1409,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/09\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-4-on-the-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":1392,"position":0},"title":"Preparing for In-Person Exams Part 4: On The Day","author":"Kyra Ings","date":"January 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"What you do just before an exam can make a big difference to your performance and your confidence. Here are our tips for staying positive on exam days and ensuring that everything goes smoothly. https:\/\/vimeo.com\/810532463 1: Know when to stop revising\u00a0 The evening before your exam, give yourself some time\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illustration of a desk with a lamp, calendar, laptop and notebook","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":806,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/05\/04\/my-tips-for-exam-preparation\/","url_meta":{"origin":1392,"position":1},"title":"My tips for exam preparation","author":"Erifyli Vologianni","date":"May 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi, I\u2019m Erifyli. I\u2019m a final year International Management student and Skills Co-Creator. Here are some of my personal tips that will help you to organise and revise efficiently for the upcoming exam period. Exam period. \"That time of the year\" is approaching. People are setting revision schedules, libraries are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Exams&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Exams","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/exams\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lines of desks and chairs in an exam hall at university.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":371,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/12\/02\/top-tips-for-taking-open-book-exams-1-preparation\/","url_meta":{"origin":1392,"position":2},"title":"Top tips for taking open book exams 1 - preparation","author":"Kerry Vevers","date":"December 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"During the exam period, you may be asked to take a home-based online open book exam. Open book exams allow you to consult external sources such as textbooks and your own notes during the exam time. Here are some tips from former Academic Skills Course Leader Tom Reid to help\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Student taking an online open book exam","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":93,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/12\/02\/top-ten-tips-for-exam-preparation\/","url_meta":{"origin":1392,"position":3},"title":"Top 10 tips for exam preparation","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"December 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Whatever type of exam you'll be sitting this exam period, here are some general top 10 tips from former Academic Skills Course Leader Tom Reid on how to improve your exam scores. 1. Attend revision sessions Revision lectures and workshops are designed to help you focus on key content from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Student sitting an in-person exam in an exam room.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/exam-800x450-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/exam-800x450-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/exam-800x450-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/exam-800x450-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":724,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2021\/12\/08\/fixed-time-exams-your-questions-answered\/","url_meta":{"origin":1392,"position":4},"title":"Online fixed-time exams: your questions answered","author":"Alexandra Paramour","date":"December 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Most exams for Semester 2 2021\/22 will be online 'fixed-time' exams \u2013 short in duration, scheduled in a specific time slot and sat remotely via Inspera. Here are some questions you may have if you\u2019re taking this type of exam. Are fixed-time exams like traditional exams but online? In many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A laptop and a phone displaying a clock","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":948,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/12\/14\/the-night-before-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":1392,"position":5},"title":"The night before Christmas","author":"Kerry Vevers","date":"December 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"St Nick offers some words of wisdom ahead of the exam period in the Skills Centre's 2022 seasonal message. https:\/\/vimeo.com\/779691899 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... Students were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Still from video displaying the words: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...'. There's an illustration of a sleeping mouse.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/12\/Twas-the-Night-Before-Christmas-800x450-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/12\/Twas-the-Night-Before-Christmas-800x450-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/12\/Twas-the-Night-Before-Christmas-800x450-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/12\/Twas-the-Night-Before-Christmas-800x450-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1962"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1392\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}