Photo: Swanwick Hall

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Exams

By Opinion Editor 5 years ago

And so it begins…

Market Street is quickly becoming decked in fairy-lights; shops have their glittery, winter fashion trends enticing students; we clutch hot Costa cups and bustle to and from classes, scarves bundled around necks and noses red from the freezing Fife cold. Amidst the frenzy of Christmas, there is still one thought nagging at everyone’s tinsel-filled minds, trying desperately to be heard over the streams of Christmas songs that run through our heads: exams.

Tests, quizzes, assessments, exams – none of these are new prospects for students here, all of whom have been working hard for years at school, scrawling out essays and cramming bundles of information until our heads almost explode. What is new, is the way in which we now revise here at uni, and, for many, this comes with a heightened sense of dread as the pace picks up.

Photo: Edulegal Times

One week to study for three exams. As first years, this idea seems absurd. Despite the fact that plenty have told us not to stress too much about first year, everyone wants good marks, and to rest easy after a semester of courses. Of course, by now, you can expect tighter deadlines (or maybe that’s just for us procrastinators…) and the rushed sense of panic as you try to submit your essay mere seconds before it is due; yet, even for those who have attended every lecture without fail, the thought of studying a semester’s worth of work in one week is undeniably daunting.

In high school, when studying for A levels, Highers, and Advanced Highers, the bliss of “study leave” made the trek towards exam period slightly easier. We left school, returning when we needed help or had specific questions, and spent the period “revising”. Past papers spilled over desks filled with mugs of coffee and old pens, furious scribblings and post-its on every corner. However, this time also meant no other work or deadlines, and the month could be filled with other, more enjoyable things to make the stress a little bit bearable: walks on the beach, visiting friends (for study groups, of course…), and no more of the 9 o’clock starts that wreak havoc on every student.

Now this seems like a distant dream, tossed away in the past couple of months which have swept by in a blur of new faces, essays, and events. Although we have swapped confinement for liberty, where nobody watches over our shoulders, tells us to “leave the phone alone!”, or claims the hours of study not to be enough, this is a new, bittersweet responsibility.

Photo: Pinterest

With only a week until exams, deadlines continue to sweep in. The worst is over, at this point, but a 55 page novel extract for International Relations beckons me, as well as chapters to read and “revision” classes to attend, on top of revision itself. At the same time, we have to reason with ourselves: socialising must take a backseat. Though seemingly obvious, this is in fact a difficult feat; Christmas themed nights seem to entice us from every social venue, and a couple of relaxing drinks at the pub turns into a whole night out, so that we wake up in the morning with not only a pounding head, but the sickening reminder that we need to get on top of work – fast.

For all freshers taking exams – good luck! We can only get used to this new type of system, which we have managed so far. Study habits have already been developed, and once you sit down and figure out a past paper, the end is not only nearer, but seems far more manageable. Deadlines have been met, classes attended, seminars participated in, and now we just have exams to get through; once brushed out of the way, Christmas becomes a fun time. We can read for pleasure, relax with a Baileys hot chocolate, visit the Christmas markets, and enjoy the lights that deck the streets of St Andrews.

Comments

comments

Tags: , , ,

139 thoughts on “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Exams”

  2. Howdy would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with?
    I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a hard time choosing
    between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.

    The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m
    looking for something unique.
    P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    Reply

  9. Good info and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you people have any thoughts on where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂

    Reply

  10. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

    Reply

  12. Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!

    Reply

  15. I was more than happy to seek out this web-site.I needed to thanks for your time for this glorious learn!! I definitely enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

    Reply

  28. Good – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task..

    Reply

  30. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.

    Reply

  34. Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

    Reply

  35. Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, wonderful blog!

    Reply

  37. Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your
    blog and may come back in the foreseeable future.
    I want to encourage you to continue your great writing, have a nice day!

    Reply

  38. Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating
    it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you
    might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it grow over
    time.

    Reply

  39. Hi, i feel that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to return the favor?.I’m attempting to in finding issues to improve my site!I
    guess its good enough to use some of your concepts!!

    Reply

  58. Thanks for sharing your ideas. Another thing is that learners have a selection between government student loan along with a private education loan where it is easier to select student loan online debt consolidation than over the federal education loan.

    Reply

  59. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

    Reply

  61. Thanks for the thoughts you have shared here. In addition, I believe there are numerous factors that really keep your car insurance premium straight down. One is, to bear in mind buying motors that are inside the good set of car insurance businesses. Cars which are expensive tend to be more at risk of being lost. Aside from that insurance is also in accordance with the value of your car or truck, so the more pricey it is, then the higher the particular premium you make payment for.

    Reply

  63. Hey very nice web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

    Reply

  99. I loved up to you will receive carried out right here. The comic strip is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. in poor health undoubtedly come more in the past again since precisely the similar nearly very incessantly inside of case you shield this hike.

    Reply
  101. Pingback: Reba Fleurantin

  108. An attention-grabbing discussion is price comment. I believe that you should write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

    Reply

  111. Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.

    Reply
  114. Pingback: Chirurgie esthétique Tunisie
  115. Pingback: National Chi Nan University
  116. Pingback: MBA in FUE
  117. Pingback: الإرشاد الاكاديمي
  118. Pingback: Immunizations
  119. Pingback: Social Activities for pharmacy students at future university
  120. Pingback: Arranging workshops and conferences in coordination with internal faculty of pharmacy departments
  121. Pingback: Accredited private dental faculty
  122. Pingback: engineering majors
  123. Pingback: قسم علوم الحاسب
  124. Pingback: Academic Appeals
  125. Pingback: best university in egypt

  128. When someone writes an piece of writing he/she maintains the plan of a user in his/her mind that how a user can understand it.Thus that’s why this article is outstdanding. Thanks!

    Reply

  136. It’s actually a nice and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you simply sharedthis useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this.Thank you for sharing.Feel free to surf to my blog post: dosurveys4cash.co.za

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

THE STAND