This page covers exam preparation at every stage — from weeks before your exam to the exam room itself. Use the navigation below to go directly to the section most relevant to you.

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Weeks before your exam

Preparing for university exams is different to what you may have done before. This guidance helps you build on what you already know. Use this guidance when your exam is several weeks away.

 

Plan your revision

A realistic timetable will be flexible. You should be able to adapt it as your needs change. When planning your revision:

  • create a timetable that fits around your other commitments and personal time
  • plan revision for the times of day when you concentrate best
  • include regular breaks
  • track what you've already revised so you can revisit it later
  • break your revision into manageable tasks so you can see what you have achieved

 

You should be revisiting topics more than once. Build time for this into your plan.

 

 

Know what kind of exam you are taking

There are three types of exam: closed-book, open-book, and seen-question. Each needs a different approach.

  • Closed-book exams

    You cannot take notes or materials into the exam. You rely on your knowledge and memory. Revise to recall key ideas without notes.

  • Open-book exams

    You can take notes and/or materials into the exam. You still need to understand the material. Organise your notes so you can find information quickly during the exam.

  • Seen-question exams

    This is when you receive the questions in advance. Plan and practise answers, then condense them into key points you can recall under exam conditions. Also, check the instructions ahead of time as you may be able to take notes into this exam.

 

 

Revision techniques

Most exams ask you to apply ideas, not just recall them. Rereading notes is rarely enough on its own.

Different techniques suit different subjects and exam types. Try a few techniques and identify which work best for you.

 

Commonly effective techniques include:

  • organising notes by topic or theme
  • reducing notes over time — from full notes to shorter summaries to key points
  • using notetaking techniques such as diagrams, mind maps, or flow charts to show relationships
  • using memory techniques such as mnemonics or acronyms
  • revising in short, focused sessions rather than long periods without breaks

 

Two commonly used memory techniques are explained below.

 

  • Mnemonics

    This is a pattern, phrase, or association that makes information easier to recall.

    Example: 'My very educated mother just served us noodles' to remember the planets in order (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).

  • Acronyms

    A word formed from the first letters of a list of terms.

    Example: FAST to remember the signs of a stroke (Face, Arms, Speech, Time).

    Example: PEEL to remember a paragraph structure (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link).

 

If revision already feels confusing or overwhelming, go to Further support. When your exam is closer, go to Days before your exam.

 

 

Days before your exam

As your exam gets closer, the focus of your revision should change. Use this time to concentrate on what you already know.

 

Prepare practically

Practical preparation reduces stress on the day. Make sure you know:

  • the date, time, and duration of your exam
  • where it takes place, or how to access it if it's online
  • what equipment you're allowed to bring

 

Prepare everything you need at least one day before your exam.

 

 

Consolidation

At this stage, focus on consolidation, returning to material you've already studied.

  • prioritise key topics — if you're unsure where to start, go to Weeks before your exam
  • revisit summaries, reduced notes, and key points
  • test your understanding by generating questions from your notes, either with the help of AI or done by yourself
  • spend more time on topics you're less confident about

 

Short, focused revision sessions are more effective than long sessions without breaks. For methods such as the Pomodoro method, go to Time management and productivity.

 

 

Managing nerves and stress

You may have used some of these strategies before:

 

If you feel overwhelmed, slow breathing or grounding techniques can help you refocus. If anxiety is affecting your revision, go to Further support.

 

 

In the exam

This guidance is for when you're sitting the exam. The focus is on managing your time, reading questions carefully, and making effective decisions under pressure. 

If you're familiar with exams, this guidance is a reminder of what to focus on. If you're less experienced, it covers the key decisions you'll need to make when the exam starts.

 

Read the questions carefully

Before you begin writing, read all the instructions and the questions. Check what choices you have and how many questions you need to answer.

For each question:

  • identify the task words – the words that tell you what to do, for example: discuss, evaluate, outline, compare
  • note any subject-specific terms that you need to explain or apply in your answer

 

Spending time on these at the start of the exam helps you stay focused and helps you answer the question fully.

 

 

Plan your time

Divide your time across questions before you begin writing.

  • allocate time to each question based on its marks
  • leave a few minutes to read through your answers
  • marks are spread across questions – don't spend all your time on one

 

 

Answering each question

Before answering each question, spend one to two minutes planning your response. This keeps your answer focused and relevant.

 

 

If you are struggling with a question

If you're struggling, move on and return to it later. Sometimes moving on to the following questions will trigger your memory. Remember, a partial answer gains more marks than no answer.

Remember that feeling uncertain during the exam is normal.

 

Try this…

Familiarise yourself with some breathing exercises as a technique to reduce anxiety in the exam.

 

 

Further support

Exam pressure is quite common. It can affect even the best-prepared students. Return to this guidance at any point during revision.

 

The academic support advisers are available for one-to-one support.

 

Wellbeing support

Contact your personal academic tutor or student success advisor if any of these apply to you:

  • Exam anxiety is interfering with your revision or performance.
  • You feel overwhelmed, even after preparing.

 

Alternatively, you might want to look at our wellbeing resources.

 

 

Page last edited: 27 August 2026
Next review due: 23 July 2029