How to succeed this assessment season

The run-up to the assessment period can be busy and stressful. Our student tips will help you to prepare and manage your time effectively.

Tip 1. Devise a realistic timetable

It might sound easier said than done, but there are ways to improve your time management skills if you struggle to start assignments early…

Revise in smaller chunks

Aim to take regular breaks, whether it is to have a walk around campus or grab some lunch. It is key to let your brain rest between intense periods of focusing.

It is not realistic to dedicate an entire day to a desk and expect to spend 100% of your time on revision. The likelihood is that your focus levels will drop, leading to demotivation and reluctance to study as hard the next day.

By devising a manageable timetable that acknowledges rest breaks and doesn’t overwhelm you, you can get ahead with your assignments and boost productivity. Why not plot your revision schedule in your Microsoft teams or Outlook calendar?

Tip 2. Choose a suitable study space

Think about what it is that easily distracts you

When studying at home, do you find the urge to stick on a film? Or is it the constant movement of people in the Library?

It’s crucial to know which study environment makes you work most productively.

There are a range of study spaces at the University, from 24-hour clusters (which tend to be less busy outside of timetabled sessions) to the relaxed atmosphere in LUU Common Ground. Perhaps you will find that one of these suggestions is your new favourite spot.

You can find out more on the University’s dedicated study spaces page.

Tip 3. Organise your online resources

When writing an essay on a complex issue, searching for relevant literature or research can prove to be frustrating. Either the results are too general, or nothing relevant comes up.

Use keywords

It is important to identify keywords for your written work when using resources like Library at Leeds or Google Scholar. Doing this narrows your search and displays only the most relevant literature.

Organise each piece of literature under the corresponding keyword to make your references easy to locate during the write-up. A software you might use for this is ‘EndNote’ — references can be saved here and added to Microsoft Word documents. Sound helpful? Guidance for using EndNote can be found on the Library support page.

Tip 4. Study with others

Share the academic load

When getting ready for an exam, forming a study group allows you and your peers to keep each other on track and share knowledge.

You could quiz each other on upcoming topics, or discuss an interesting concept learnt in a seminar. Studying this way allows you to receive feedback and overcome challenging areas together. To facilitate a productive discussion, you can book group study spaces through the Library service.

If these spaces are unavailable, you can always gather in a more informal environment. Why not meet at one of the cafés on campus? Such as Café Nero, on the ground floor of Laidlaw Library.

Tip 5. Plan activities to look forward to

Integrate social activities and exercise into your routine

Taking your eyes off the screen and immersing yourself in real life will allow your mind to rest and boost your energy levels.

Towards the end of the exam season, try to plan things to get excited about. Book a weekend trip to a nearby place or get tickets to an upcoming concert. Rewarding yourself in this way will help you to stay motivated and provide well-deserved respite.

Remember: maintaining balance is crucial for improving your mindset. It’s also great to add variety to your schedule.

Students can access helpful guides for Minerva, PebblePad, and Turnitin, as well as resources on assessment and academic integrity at the Digital Education Systems Help website. You can also find information on assessment at the For Student website.

Written by Dmitriy, Student Ambassador for Digital Education