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Well done to everyone for getting through the second semester. Easter holidays are a time for rest, rejuvenation and spending time with family and friends. However, many students have exams after the holidays and need to also find the time for revision. This blog post aims to give you some tips on how to balance all of this and get the most out of the holidays.  

1) Start early

Now is the time to start! Starting early will alleviate stress, allow flexibility for when needed and provide momentum for the rest of the holidays. Starting is usually the hardest part, but I’d advise utilising the beginning of the holidays to assess where you’re at and where you want to be. I suggest sitting down and completing some in-depth analysis of what requires preparation. To prepare, I’d suggest doing the following:

• make lists of what you need to get done;
• identify when you’re busiest during the holidays;
• look into your weaker subjects;
• decide what revision materials you want to make; and
• plan your time up until the exams/end of holidays.

Many students think the Easter holidays are the best time to catch up and have ambitious revision goals. However, many fail to achieve this due to lack of preparation. So, make sure you have a clear plan – it’s key to success.

2) Ask for help

Though some tutors may be on holiday leave, not all are and are often happy to help answer questions, give exam feedback and provide extra help. Therefore, it’s worth reaching out to find their contact hours and book an appointment with them. You can also email your personal academic tutor, as they’re best placed to assess your position and give individualised support. Also, I’ve found revising with friends can be highly beneficial, as your peers can explain subjects to you in a more accessible way.

You may wish to organise a study group throughout the holiday as this’ll keep you accountable and proactive. However, you should to be careful as studying with others is not for everyone, especially if you’re easily distracted or more independent. Remember to check if this method actually works for you and that you’re getting quality studying done in your study sessions. 

3) Balance 

Like many students, I’ve made the mistake of adopting an ‘all or nothing’ approach and I’ve set myself unrealistic study goals in the past. While it may seem like a good plan at the start, it’s usually unsustainable and counter productive. It’s better to factor in rest periods, exercise and socialising. These activities don’t take away from your revision and will allow you to have greater mental clarity and reduce burn out. I recommend doing this through a reward system. After a certain amount of revision, I like to plan an activity as a reward to help motivate myself. You should also consider when your exams are as it may be better to pace yourself. Invest more time in revision closer to your exams for retention. 

4) Work smarter, not harder

You’ll most likely find that your revision style for law exams won’t be the same as the one used for school, particularly if they’re open book and there’s less emphasis on memorisation. I would recommend finding out what kind of learner you are, which you can do through online quizzes. From there, you can tailor your revision technique to your particular needs.

For example, if you’re a visual learner, create mind maps and have them around your house. I retain more through writing, so I like to use the blurting method. This is where you write as much as you can remember about a topic from memory and then fill in the gaps with your notes. It’s also vital that any revision materials you make are organised and understandable, as you want to be ready for when your exams arrive. Keep this in mind when considering the conciseness and layout of your documents.

I hope this blog post has been helpful for students with exams approaching. I wish you the best of luck with your studies!