I remember my first uni exam as a fresher being pretty nerve wracking. But not in the way that you would expect. I was confident that I had revised the exam material, so I had no worries about the content of the exam. I did however, have absolutely no clue as to how a uni exam operated, and spent a lot of my time worrying about what I had to do prior to sitting in that exam hall. Here's my guide to what to expect of your first uni exam, so you don't have to worry as much as I did!
Before the exam day:
Make sure you know where your student ID is...
99% of exams will require you to bring your uni ID as admittance to the exam. This is so they know that the right student is sat in the right seat, and that you have attended the exam. If you don't have your card, you also wont be able to work out where your seat is on the day.
You still need an exam pencil case...
If your a humanities student like me, you wont be required to bring anything but a pen to an exam. But you should still bring a clear pencil case. Fill it with your trusty pen and two spares, and a highlighter in case you need to breakdown a tricky essay question. Its also really useful to place your student ID card in there, so you don't lose it between your accommodation and the exam room.
On exam day:
Arrive to your exam 30 mins before it starts...
Exam waiting areas get real busy real fast, so its good to get there early if you want to avoid arriving to a panicked crowd.
Your seating plan will be available on the day of the exam, not anytime before that point...
Getting there 30 mins early will also mean you can suss out your seat. The chart normally looks like a load of computer coding, as seating is done by ID number. All you need to do is find your ID number on the seating plan. Don't panic if this takes time, it can often be a little confusing. Your more than entitled to go up and check your number multiple times too!
Surrender all revision notes at the door...
There should be a box at the exam entrance where you can surrender all contraband. This includes revision notes and opaque pencil cases. Mobile phones need to be left at home or stored where examiners tell you, they cannot go in this box. If you find anything on you before the exam starts, just tell an examiner before the clock starts ticking - they don't mind!
Get comfy, display your ID card and follow examiner instructions...
Once you're in the room, the examiners will tell you what to do next.
Ace your exam...
The exam is the easy part of the whole process to be honest. If you've followed the above tips, hopefully your experience from start to finish will be pain free!
Beth x
