Exam Time Thread

KittyeeTrix

Thought it might be nice to have a place to maybe have a chat with exams looming on the horizon.
Sometimes it helps to know that others are in the same boat and we're not all alone!

Personally, I'm juggling essays, projects and future 4th yr exams at the moment and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling a little overwhelmed by it all.

Hope study is going well for ye all...:)

cgpg5

Getting started is the tough bit. Am one of the fortunate ones who starts as late as the 30th April but I'm beginning to wonder is it a good thing, as I've been lazy to say the least so far this week. Perhaps if they were nearer I'd be more motivated. Still tomorrow is another day ha!

These are my final year exams too which just adds to the pressure. I am studying at home myself for the month, get my meals in and my training done so it's looking good so far. Be interesting to hear where is ye're study places of choice and are ye going sticking to them.

meeka

I don't start til 8th of May myself, final year exams too. Will be happy enough to see the back of them

Studying in the library these days but god, the chattering that goes on.. I'll change to one of the Physics department classrooms in a couple of weeks, I imagine..

KittyeeTrix

I still have lectures till the 20th so have no choice but to go in.....

Nailz

I have 4 exams for this semester, they're nicely spread out though; my first being on the 26th of April, the last being on the 16th of May. It's actually great compared to my exams last semester where I had 6 to do in 5 days... Torture. Hopefully all goes well anyway.

Best of luck to everyone else in your efforts as well.

KittyeeTrix

Our 1st yr undenominated science exams were a nightmare as well. Had two 3 hr maths exams on the first day.....,.

Still traumatised over it!!:D

cat_xx

7 exams.. start the 23rd of april finish the 4th of may. Final year exams .. worst timetable ever!!

KittyeeTrix

cat_xx wrote: »

7 exams.. start the 23rd of april finish the 4th of may. Final year exams .. worst timetable ever!!

Are ye finished lectures yet??
We aren't finished till April 20th with our 1st exam a week later on the 27th.... Stress!!!!

meeka

KittyeeTrix wrote: »

Are ye finished lectures yet??
We aren't finished till April 20th with our 1st exam a week later on the 27th.... Stress!!!!

What are you studying that your lecturers aren't finished til the 20th? That's mad! :eek:

KittyeeTrix

Microbiology 4th year.
We had our lectures in 2 separate blocks. The first block of 4 subjects had exams in March.
The 2nd block of lectures was to be examined between May 8th-11th but there was a scheduling problem so the exam on the 11th was pulled forward to the 20th.......

Ruire

I only have three exams (admittedly with a history dissertation to start/finish simultaneously), but have jury duty the day after my last one...

KittyeeTrix

Final essay and project finished so time to prepare for the exams.
Spent the weekend (Fri and Sat) in the college computer suites and the peace was bliss.:)
Hardly a soul around!!

Today is gonna be a very productive day, hopefully:p
And I have a huge Galaxy Chocolate to help me through it all............Yayyyy for Easter!:D

aperture_nuig

6 exams, spaced out over 3 weeks, happy out final year too

KittyeeTrix

Started off well. Hit a tricky bit and lay down on my bed to think about the area for a few minutes.............

Woke up almost 2 hours later!!:eek::(

Lesson: stay away from the bed:D

BhoscaCapall

Was going to post in the Bitch thread but hey. As if written exams weren't a crap enough form of assessment, their worth is undermined further when you make students sit multiple exams consecutively, sometimes on the same day.

I know it sounds a bit babyish and I expect the stock response is "you're an adult, it's only 4 hours a day, how will you cope with a 9-to-5" etc but it's not really comparable. Exams are far more stressful than day-to-day work. Preparation has little to do with it, indeed its often the more successful students than stress the most. A run of exams often leaves you pretty drained, and I'd say even if you gave me the answers to study I'd still end up dropping marks with the later papers.

dmcg90

Six exams starting 30th April, finishing May 17th so a three week period isn't bad. The thesis though... thats another story. Trying to complete a literature review, get access for interviews and study is majorly stressful, this juggling act isn't easy!

KittyeeTrix

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Was going to post in the Bitch thread but hey. As if written exams weren't a crap enough form of assessment, their worth is undermined further when you make students sit multiple exams consecutively, sometimes on the same day.

I know it sounds a bit babyish and I expect the stock response is "you're an adult, it's only 4 hours a day, how will you cope with a 9-to-5" etc but it's not really comparable. Exams are far more stressful than day-to-day work. Preparation has little to do with it, indeed its often the more successful students than stress the most. A run of exams often leaves you pretty drained, and I'd say even if you gave me the answers to study I'd still end up dropping marks with the later papers.

I agree with you here BhoscaCapall. I've picked modules this semester which were essay/project and presentation based over traditional exam based types as they suit me much better. One of my exams is also open book and although the content will be expected to be of a higher level it does not require a sharp memory around the time of major sleep deprivation.:)

dmcg90 wrote: »

Six exams starting 30th April, finishing May 17th so a three week period isn't bad. The thesis though... thats another story. Trying to complete a literature review, get access for interviews and study is majorly stressful, this juggling act isn't easy!

That is tough dmcg90.....:eek:
I'm lucky enough that we had our lab work from Sept to Dec and had the thesis and lit review handed in by Dec 12th.
Had regular lectures then in 2 blocks so basically only have about 20% assesment wise of my final year to endure:)

muchacho

4 exams from 8th to the 20th of May, Final Year Project due this Friday (worth 1/4 of a degree) and 3 assignment due the 20th of April. It's going to be a rough couple of weeks..

cgpg5

With regard to clustered exam timetables I remember last year second semester we'd 4 compulsory subjects and 2 options (from a choice of 10+ subjects)- 6 subjects in total. For most in the course they had 5 exams in the space of 2 weeks while others (myself among these), depending on what option they picked, had the 6 in 2 weeks.

However a very popular subject (which was one of the options) selected by a high number in the course was examined 2 full weeks after this period, giving many 14 full days to study for this. More often than not with such a long period to perfect their knowledge in this subject students were always going to perform very highly in this subject. Those that selected an alternative option had to sit this in the middle of the two week period with all of their other 5 subjects meaning that they were always under pressure to do well.

Just goes to show what a difference a favourable exam timetable can make and it is for this reason I feel CA should account for 50% in a high amount of subjects, where possible.

hokeypokey

Walked into library... walked out...

cgpg5

hokeypokey wrote: »

Walked into library... walked out...

Haha.. I'd say these weeks in particular its a more "no go" area than ever!

KittyeeTrix

What a week. Have my final 2 exams on Thursday and Friday this week but hubby landed into hospital last Thursday and is still there. Have been run ragged minding the house, kids and then the bank holiday meant they were all off school.

Have tonnes left to do today and tomorrow so really up against it at the moment.

Stress levels through the bloody roof. It could only happen to me that the hubby who ran the house for the past 4 years would get sick the week I need him most!!:(

How goes it for the rest of ye??

RolandIRL

3 down, 3 to go. Exam this afternoon, one which is hard to study for since the notes are crap. Could go either way, but hopefully the first semester grade will bump me up a bit. Finished monday afternoon, then gonna take a long needed break at home.

Sorry to hear about the hubby, Kittyee, hope he's feeling better soon

Nal

for some reason, I do not feel motivated to study at all for these exams. Don't know why either, its not really been a big problem before.

KittyeeTrix

RolandIRL wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the hubby, Kittyee, hope he's feeling better soon

Brain cyst Roland but just rang to say he's being allowed home so happily heading to collect him now:D

Happy days!!! Cuts my study time down even further but what's the harm.

Good luck this afternoon!!

meeka

Finally started my final exams today; 3 more left and then my undergrad is done for good. Seems like a relief to have started, at least..

Caiseoipe19

I had six final year exams this semester. They put four of them within 3 days with the first on the Monday afternoon and the 4th on the Wednesday morning so i was literally no break. To add on top of that 2 of them were 3 hour exams. You'd think for final year they'd at least give us a chance. A day, even half a day, makes so much difference. :mad:

filmbuffboy

I only had one exam this semester. To make up for that though I had some amount of essays! glad its all over until sept!

KittyeeTrix

filmbuffboy wrote: »

I only had one exam this semester. To make up for that though I had some amount of essays! glad its all over until sept!

Lucky you...........I've 2 more days till freedom!!!!!!:D

Caiseoipe19

filmbuffboy wrote: »

I only had one exam this semester. To make up for that though I had some amount of essays! glad its all over until sept!

It might be August for me...:(

skinny90

same....

meeka

Last exam tomorrow, thankfully. It truly is just the stragglers left at the moment, I count about 6 people currently on the top floor of the library...

KittyeeTrix

Best of luck Meeka!!!!

I finished last Friday. Went on the tear for 2 days. Lost my voice but Man City lifted the Cup so a fantastic weekend overall:D