Top Tips: Exams 2020
The SRC Advice Centre have put together a list of Top Tips to help you prepare for the Winter 2020 exam diet.
Study and put in the same amount of effort that you would for a normal in-person exam. Work out what are the intended learning outcomes (ILOs) for the exam, don’t just plan to repeat everything you know, but select what is relevant and show critical thinking. Use past papers, take notes, draft answer plans, sit practice exams, read all course notes and contact your lecturers if you are unsure about anything. LEADs (Learning Enhancement & Academic Development Service) have a large number of study skill guides so don’t forget to look here.
And look after yourself. The SRC and other student bodies on campus will be running de-stress events so see here: https://www.glasgowstudent.net/whats-on/exam-destress/
If you live with flatmates or family tell them in advance about your exam. Put a note up on your door so that you won’t be disturbed and if you need to use a shared area of your home such as the kitchen table then negotiate with your flatmates well in advance of your exam day about this. Also have everything around you that is need for the exam, rather than having go hunting for it during the exam.
If you absolutely cannot do your exam at home you may be able to book a space on campus to do the exam – the link for doing this is on the exam support page which we have linked previously (www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/academic/examsupport). Please be aware that spaces for this may be limited.
Your exam might be due over a 24 hours period or within a set time. Make sure you know the rules for each exam and follow these.
Importantly do not just copy and paste text into your exam script or use “close paraphrasing” as the rules on plagiarism still apply! If you are struggling with referencing or are unsure on how to avoid plagiarism, then contact your lecturer or LEADs: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/leads/students/plagiarism/
If you are worried about your laptop or internet connection before the exam diet, contact your School or the SRC Advice Centre to find out what support is available. Your School should also have emailed you to say what to do if you have a problem during the exam. For example, this might be to contact a specific member of staff or the IT Helpdesk, so make sure you know who to contact if things go wrong.
Also see here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/academic/examsupport/
While the Good Cause procedure was superseded by the University’s “No Detriment Policy” last semester, claims can be made again. If you are unwell or your experience unforeseen adverse circumstance, then you might be able to submit a Good Cause claim via your MyCampus with 5 days of the affected assessment. If the claim is accepted, typically this will allow you to re-sit the exam uncapped at a later date.
Have a look at the FAQ page here for further info: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/senateoffice/policies/assessment/goodcausefaqs/
From all of us here at the SRC Advice Centre, we wish you the best of luck and please remember that we are here to support you with more tips like these, a lot of which can be found on the Academic section of our pages: https://www.glasgowstudent.net/advice/academic/