Exams After Christmas

nvken

I personally would love to start a debate on this. I think its a disgrace that the exams are in January. It is very difficult on students in my opinion. If anyone reading this has intentions of going for Student Union next year this is a topic that would certainly get my vote. In fact it would get the vote of over 90 per cent of my classmates. I would love to see it changed.

SantryRed

I love the exams after Christmas.

nvken

SantryRed wrote: »

I love the exams after Christmas.

Why out of interest? Is there any way of adding a poll here?

Moody_mona

In what way do you think it is very difficult on students OP?

For the exams to be before Christmas, the college would have to start lectures at least two weeks early in September/August, and during my time in DCU I always liked the elongated summer months.

While it can be difficult to study over the Christmas period, especially for students who have travelled home for the holidays, the exams do not start on the 2nd of January which is oftentimes the first working day. In fact, if I remember correctly, there is a lengthy study period. What date do this year's exams start on?

nvken

Moody_mona wrote: »

In what way do you think it is very difficult on students OP?

For the exams to be before Christmas, the college would have to start lectures at least two weeks early in September/August, and during my time in DCU I always liked the elongated summer months.

While it can be difficult to study over the Christmas period, especially for students who have travelled home for the holidays, the exams do not start on the 2nd of January which is oftentimes the first working day. In fact, if I remember correctly, there is a lengthy study period. What date do this year's exams start on?

It is difficult on students who go home as you said.
I think there are numerous downsides some of which I will now say:
- Studying over the christmas
- People returning home for Christmas and not getting the chance to go to the library
- Say someone begins study on 2nd Jan, its been a very big break since college. Rustiness that December exams would avoid
- I personally have turned down seasonal work due to exam commitments
- 2nd Semester starts very quick. By this I mean students are on a post exam chill and before you know it a few weeks of Semester 2 have Passed. In December exams students would be off while these weeks pass.

Would a MOD be able to add a poll? Or would I be able to add a poll?

And for exams to be before Christmas lectures wouldn't have to start in August.

Tramps Like Us

Moody_mona wrote: »

In what way do you think it is very difficult on students OP?

For the exams to be before Christmas, the college would have to start lectures at least two weeks early in September/August, and during my time in DCU I always liked the elongated summer months.

While it can be difficult to study over the Christmas period, especially for students who have travelled home for the holidays, the exams do not start on the 2nd of January which is oftentimes the first working day. In fact, if I remember correctly, there is a lengthy study period. What date do this year's exams start on?

20th January

Moody_mona

nvken wrote: »

It is difficult on students who go home as you said.
I think there are numerous downsides some of which I will now say:
- Studying over the christmas
- People returning home for Christmas and not getting the chance to go to the library
- Say someone begins study on 2nd Jan, its been a very big break since college. Rustiness that December exams would avoid
- I personally have turned down seasonal work due to exam commitments
- 2nd Semester starts very quick. By this I mean students are on a post exam chill and before you know it a few weeks of Semester 2 have Passed. In December exams students would be off while these weeks pass.

Would a MOD be able to add a poll? Or would I be able to add a poll?

And for exams to be before Christmas lectures wouldn't have to start in August.

Maybe not lectures, but certainly registration and orientation, considering exams are two weeks long and so is the study period.

There is a week gap after exams, perhaps you don't feel this is an adequate chill period but the university are certainly catering to that need.

I don't feel rustiness is a reason to have exams sooner. It implies material is learnt for an exam and forgotten afterwards. I still use the majority of lecture content I studied while in DCU. Year long modules normally don't have January exams which means material learnt in the first week may be examined in the final week, which I think is fair enough.

Seasonal work such as retail would be off limits if exams were in December during the busy shopping periods, whereas that would not interfere with exams that start so late in January.

I don't like studying over Christmas, I never did, but I feel it's actually more of an advantage than a hindrance for students.

Edit: I'm only offering my own opinion as a past student; I liked the timing of the exams, I understand that you don't, but don't get caught up debating or complaining about it, it'll only distract you from studying! Best of luck

Transition Metal

nvken wrote: »

- Studying over the christmas
- People returning home for Christmas and not getting the chance to go to the library
- Say someone begins study on 2nd Jan, its been a very big break since college. Rustiness that December exams would avoid
- I personally have turned down seasonal work due to exam commitments
- 2nd Semester starts very quick. By this I mean students are on a post exam chill and before you know it a few weeks of Semester 2 have Passed. In December exams students would be off while these weeks pass.

Point by point response:
1) I'd view the extra month to study thanks to the Christmas break as extremely beneficial for reviewing my work. Would you prefer to go straight from lectures into exams?
2) Simple solution- don't leave all your revision to three weeks beforehand. Take a few days to review your work.
3) If you're studying a full time course, that unfortunately has to be your priority. You're either in the college or you're not. Ditching uni work for employment is not a good idea.
4) Most students get a few days off as-is. My exams, and CA's exams end the 27th Jan for example. Semester 2 starts on the 10th Feb. A huge break would just leave a massive gap between semester-long modules and disrupt study as it is.

bs2014

Personally the exams after Christmas I think is better but I can see why some people might prefer them before xmas. For eg, this year we technically have 2 and a half additional weeks to study on top of the normal allocated 2 week study break! (Dec 20th-Jan 6th). If exams were before Christmas, we would not have this additional time to study.

On another note, I strongly believe something should be done about the library opening hours! Other colleges like UCD and NUIM offer way longer opening hours and some 24 hour. Opening from 8.30-10.00 pm at night does not facilitate for those people who work best first thing in the morning/late at night. While I think 24 hour library is somewhat mad, I think opening from say 7am-12 at night is only reasonable. From my own experience in final year, I usually finish lectures round 5, and by the time I get food ect and head to the library for the evening sesh, its be 7 or 7.30. I usually, find come after 9.30 they start chasing people out literally, and I end up having to finish assignments back home again.

p1akuw47h5r3it

nvken wrote: »

I personally would love to start a debate on this. I think its a disgrace that the exams are in January. It is very difficult on students in my opinion. If anyone reading this has intentions of going for Student Union next year this is a topic that would certainly get my vote. In fact it would get the vote of over 90 per cent of my classmates. I would love to see it changed.

What course do you do if you don't mind me asking?

I prefer having the exams after Christmas aswell. I am always completely wiped out after the 12 weeks, and we don't get a study week either in my course.

The thoughts of doing 12 weeks flat out followed by another 4 weeks flat out (study break and exams) is horrendous. You get a small rest over Christmas and then a study period. It's a fine system imo. It could be worse also. DIT have there exams after Crimbo and they started today afaik.

Just to add: Most Christmas seasonal work would have you starting in November and mid december latest, and dies down after the New year. So having exams before Christmas would just be worse. I work in retail so I would know!

Gael23

I'm considering a masters in DCU but this is one thing is putting me off. The simple solution, what we do in UL is have January off instead of September so then the exams can be held before christmas.

Transition Metal

ryanf1 wrote: »

I'm considering a masters in DCU but this is one thing is putting me off. The simple solution, what we do in UL is have January off instead of September so then the exams can be held before christmas.

Why is it putting you off exactly? What benefits do you get from doing exams before christmas?

Gael23

Transition Metal wrote: »

Why is it putting you off exactly? What benefits do you get from doing exams before christmas?

You actually get christmas off is the most obvious one as the exams are behind you. As well as having to study you have the stress of the exams weighing on your mind when you should be able to relax and forget about everything.
In UL we started on the 9th September and finished lectures at the end of November, followed by a week off before exams. That meant the latest date you could finish was December 21st, depending on what days your exams were. I was finished on the 14th myself

PunkFreud

ryanf1 wrote: »

I'm considering a masters in DCU but this is one thing is putting me off. The simple solution, what we do in UL is have January off instead of September so then the exams can be held before christmas.

I'm in DCU at the moment doing a postgrad, having done my undergrad in UL. I had the same attitude as you before the Xmas came, but now that it's the middle of study season - it really isn't that bad.

Unlike UL, DCU has 2 study weeks. As there are 4 weeks off for the Xmas, you can still take 2 weeks off and get an extra week of study than you're used to. In fairness once the 2nd of January hits, Xmas is over. While it was nice having all of January off in UL, you don't lose out on any holidays. DCU gets a week off after the exams finish aswell.

It's no better or no worse than UL, but it is good to change the system and try new things. And for goodness sake, don't let the Xmas exam schedule put you off doing a postgrad in DCU!

Kavrocks

ryanf1 wrote: »

You actually get christmas off is the most obvious one

I've always had Christmas off.

TheBigLebowski

ryanf1 wrote: »

You actually get christmas off is the most obvious one as the exams are behind you. As well as having to study you have the stress of the exams weighing on your mind when you should be able to relax and forget about everything.
In UL we started on the 9th September and finished lectures at the end of November, followed by a week off before exams. That meant the latest date you could finish was December 21st, depending on what days your exams were. I was finished on the 14th myself

That sounds terrible to me. December is a write off as it is with far too many distractions. I like to get all the Christmas madness out of the way so I can actually concentrate on exams. I don't worry about them over Christmas; I just put it out of my mind until January. If the 2 or 3 weeks study time at the start of January is not enough for you, you're doing something wrong.

Obviously, basing your decision on which college to go to on the timings of the exams is immature in the extreme.

Gael23

TheBigLebowski wrote: »

That sounds terrible to me. December is a write off as it is with far too many distractions. I like to get all the Christmas madness out of the way so I can actually concentrate on exams. I don't worry about them over Christmas; I just put it out of my mind until January. If the 2 or 3 weeks study time at the start of January is not enough for you, you're doing something wrong.

Obviously, basing your decision on which college to go to on the timings of the exams is immature in the extreme.

Well im not going to make a decision just based on that but I see it as a negative point.
I do see what you said about having 2 weeks off after christmas but I would still be thinking about it before that.
I like everything else about DCU and the course though so i'll probably just live with it.

antkeane

The exam schedule is epic.

Please leave it alone DCU. Thank you

Arciphel

At the moment while trying to study for last exam and finding motivation absent, I wish the exams had been before christmas! :pac: