Overwhelmed by repeat exams

LegacyUser

Hi,

I'm in my second year of college and after a very easy first year, I dossed around a lot at the beginning of the year. I finally copped myself on after Christmas after really put in the effort. The effort for after Christmas really paid off and I got through the second semester almost ok. But I failed one of the modules. It was the biggest one and the hardest and a lot of people in the class have to repeat it. But unfortunately I also have to repeat the three from semester one that I failed.

That's four exams that I have to do again. And two of these subjects are massive (worth 12 and 9 credits each, a normal module is 6 credits). Now one of the other subjects is only worth 3 credits but that still puts me at having to repeat half a years worth of work in only a few weeks.

I've been studying ever since I found out but the exams are drawing closer and it appears that I really never knew this stuff to begin with and a lot of the earlier stuff is completely unheard of to me.

I can't afford to repeat the year so I really have to pass these exams but I'm finding it so hard to get through this stuff. Most days I just sit for hours trying to get through a lecture or two of the hardest subject but since that has more than 40 lectures to cover to even get the bare minimum I'm beginning to get afraid that I'll never even get to read it all, nevermind learn it all.

Has anyone here been through similar? Does anyone have any advice?

kittenkiller

Hi OP.

Talk to your firends who've done the subject.
Talk to other repeaters.

When you've got enough preparation done speak with your lecturers or tutors.

If you're lost at this stage, only working smart will help.
There's no point in putting the hours in if you don't know what you're meant to be doing.

Take all the past papers you can find and compile all the questions asked.
Do them until you're sick to the teeth of them and can answer them in your sleep.
You're lecturer should be able to guide you somewhat as to which areas to focus on (don't expect too much though).
If you can get a few others who are repeating to do similar and agree to ask him/her specific pieces each you'll all be better off.

Best of luck OP, I completely empathise (except I was always too lazy to study during the summer).
I'm sure you'll manage and be all the wiser when you get to 3rd year in September!

LegacyUser

Hi OP,
just browsing through this forum and I can tell you, I feel your pain. I am in exactly the same boat as you... 4 repeat exams to do, and unsure if I will pass them all.

You are a step ahead of me though, I must admit. I've only started studying last week, because the rest of the time was spent panicking (literally having panic attacks when I opened my books) and pitying myself.. and then deciding to go for a few drinks to forget about it!. I've copped on though now and realised that spending more time panicking than studying is obviously a waste of time!

Have you a study plan drawn up? I've just did mine and I've calmed down a bit. If you write down something you have to study each day (e.g. practice 1 accounting question, read one week of economics notes...), focus on that and nothing else. Divide the work evenly so you wont be loaded down and panicking the week of repeats. I think this will help me anyways, because the workload seems smaller and feasable.

Also, you seem to be worrying alot like me. The worst thing you can decide to do is to throw in the towel. I made a folder of picture quotes and put it on my desktop, so that everytime I stray away from the books in a temper, I look at it and feel a bit better.

I thought it was a really stupid idea at first, but my attitude and mood actually improves a bit. My favourite quotes are “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”-Thomas Edison, "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, whereas an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty."- Winston Churchill, and "Never ever ever ever ever give up"- Winston Churchill. Might seem like a silly idea, but it might help?? anything is worth a shot!!.

Also, I think its important not to stay glued to the books for too long either. Make sure you get some fresh air and exercise, and go out and meet a few friends and relax.

If you dont end up passing them all, atleast you'll know that you've tried and didn't give up. If you did fail 1,I think you can repeat a module externally, which wouldn't cost too much. However, I'm sure you can do it!!! and so can I (*rolls eyes & crosses fingers)... Best of luck!!

PS: forgot to mention Bach rescue remedy, helps settle the nerves a bit and will be especially useful for pre-exam anxiety!!

LegacyUser

OP I had to repeat 7 exams before 6 of them were two hour long papers and one was 3 hours long. On one day I had 5 hours of exams and I was commuting for the exams so that was an 4 hours travelling a day. I ended up passing 4 of them and passed the rest by compensation and got into the next year and have never had repeats since.

Get grinds off some of your friends who did well in the exams as (well I did anyway) find it impossible to get grinds off people outside of your college. Call up to the lecture explain you have 4 repeats and ask them is there any pointers they could give you. One of my friends did this and found most of them are willing to tell you what you need to study (ie what will come up on the exam.) but what ever you do don't email them because they are more likely to say no.

KevR

If you're having difficulty with something you could try calling into your lecturer. Not only will they try to help you understand what you're having difficulty with, it will also show them that you are keen to pass the exams and get through the year. If you don't contact them at all they might be more inclined to think you don't care too much about passing the exams. It's better that they have it in their head that you're interested and trying hard when they are correcting the exams.

Also, when you sat the exams the first time around did any continuous assesment count towards your grade? I failed at the first sitting a few times because of assignments/labs which I didn't do or didn't do a good job with brought me down to a fail - I probably passed the exam itself. But, in my college, continuous assesment doesn't count for the repeat exams so basically 40% in the repeat exam was all I needed the second time around which isn't too bad. Is it the same in your college?

sunnyside

I'd recommend going to the college library literally all day every day. Make a habit of being there at 8.30 or whatever time it opens. Then you can check e-mails, etc on the computers for a bit and start studying at 9. At 10.30 or 11 go for a tea break, come back to the library, study until lunchtime, have a 2 hour lunch if you want, then back to the library again.

My point is that most people in the college library are actually not getting much done, all the walking around and coffee breaks, so going there for 3 hours doesn't get much work done for an average person.
But if you are there all day you will get work done eventually. Not very efficient but it does work.