You might be feeling stressed and worried as the dates of assignments and exams get closer. Take a deep breath and remember that you’ve got this and you aren’t on your own. Everyone struggles with their workload and the pressure of doing well. That’s why we’re here to help you get through your courses from start to finish. Keep reading to learn about the library’s helpful resources and explore hacks to get the most out of your study time.
Take Advantage of Library Resources
Your library offers you more than books and a place to study. The library is also here to help you with research and assignments through online resources and workshops.
Without even stepping foot on campus, you can brush up on exam skills or learn how to ace them by watching videos and reading insightful tips for effective revision and how to approach exams. If you’ve put in study time and want to test your knowledge, browse a database of past exams. This is a great way to familiarise yourself with potential formats and the types of questions you could be asked to give yourself an advantage.
Figuring out how to start and tackle an assessment can be daunting and overwhelming. There are e-Learning resources and webinars that teach you a range of topics from understanding your brief to how to set yourself up for success.
Free workshops run throughout the year that cover topics from assignment writing to time management. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in a workshop, arrange a one-to-one appointment to receive tailored guidance.
To stay up to date with workshops and top tips, follow @salfordunilibary or check out their website to explore all the resources at your fingertips.
Assessment Hacks
Everyone has their own process for working through assignments or getting those facts to stick for exams. While no way is more right than the other, one of the best things you can do to help yourself is to develop good study habits. Read through these suggestions and try out a few, you may find some work for you!
- Take breaks: Studying or working all day is exhausting and you don’t want to feel burnt out. Remember to schedule regular study breaks and continue to make time to see friends or do your hobbies. A healthy balance means you’ll be more productive when you work, and you’ll remember more.
- Write it down: Writing down your notes or key points for exams will help with your memory recall, unlike typing on a laptop or reading notes.
- Try listening to music: Background music helps some people focus. If you find singing distracting, try classic music.
- Treat yourself: Set daily benchmarks and when you reach them, have a piece of chocolate or something sweet to keep you motivated.
- Don’t make it too easy: Try writing in different colours, highlighting important information, or even writing in a different font to make things stand out. This will help you remember key facts but also will make sure you don’t skim read.
- Turn off your phone: Phones are part of our daily routines, so it is easy to spend time scrolling when you should be working. Try putting it on airplane mode or do not disturb while you’re trying to focus.
- Try the Pomodoro Method: Try studying or working for 20 minutes, take a five-minute break, and repeat. Once you’ve done that two or three times, take a longer break and you should find that you’re more productive!
- Get a good sleep: Every night when you sleep, your brain processes information from short-term to long-term memory, so sleep is key to remembering everything you studied and for feeling refreshed for the next day.
Now that you are armed with insider library knowledge and study tips and tricks, we hope you’re feeling more in control of the weeks ahead. We have no doubt that you’ll do great. Good luck!
Additional Support
If you’re still struggling, there are services you can access for help:
- Register with the Disability Inclusion Services if you have a medical condition that requires additional support for assessments or exams.
- Explore counselling, therapy and self-help options with Wellbeing & Couselling Support.
- You can reach out to your Student Progression Administrators within your school who can offer advice and guidance for any issues outside of your modules, such as money worries, homesickness, and adjusting to university life.
If you have any other questions but aren’t sure who can help, contact askUS to be directed to the correct team.
