By The Eyeopener Masthead
Visuals by Nageen Riaz
As the end of the semester approaches, students across campus are gearing up for one of the school year’s biggest challenges—exam season. Late nights spent in the library, carefully highlighted-turned-sloppy notes and a steady supply of caffeine become staples of university life. The pressure to perform well can feel overwhelming as final grades often hinge on students’ ability to prepare.
However, exam season isn’t just about the tests themselves—it’s about navigating stress, managing time and finding ways to stay motivated. Every student approaches this time differently, relying on a variety of strategies to stay on top of deadlines and retain what they’ve learned throughout the term.
Whether it’s your first university exam at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) or you’re a seasoned professional, this guide is packed with practical advice and personal insights to help you navigate every challenge ahead. From unique study methods to tips on managing stress and staying motivated, The Eyeopener is here to help you tackle exam season with confidence.
Use planners and apps to hold yourself accountable – John Vo – Production Editor
I think everyone can attest to how important deadlines can become “lost in the sauce” due to how abundant they might be. That’s when we, as students, can look for a method of organization that’s been with humans since the beginning of time—planning it out.
In my experience, having one or even multiple dedicated planning tools to track your upcoming tasks and their progress can boost productivity and relieve stress during exam season. On top of all of these benefits, so many of them are free!
In a world full of constantly emerging organization applications, students are turning towards digital methods to manage their time. Google Calendar has skyrocketed as a top planner and TMU will even automatically add your weekly class schedule to the application. Alternatively, you can opt for your phone’s calendar, any scheduling apps or even your notes app—having your weekly schedule sit next to the drafts of late-night ruminations.
My personal favourite is Notion, a digital productivity and note-taking platform. I like to implement all my assignment due dates and final exam dates once they’re announced into an all-in-one hub for everything education-related.
There are also countless apps that help to curate a calming work environment and time your study sessions in exchange for a reward (like planting digital trees or feeding a virtual pet).
If digital isn’t your style, it would be amiss to ignore the traditional method of writing on a physical calendar or notebook with a trusty pen or pencil.
Even though the impending dread of so many assignments and dates can be overwhelming, taking it one day at a time and utilizing time management platforms can alleviate that, even if only slightly.
Create unique study methods – Nalyn Tindall – Features Editor
Studying doesn’t have to mean hours of staring blankly at your notes or rereading the same contents over and over again. Sometimes, switching up your study methods and finding unique ways to engage with the material can make all the difference.
One method I swear by is setting small achievable goals and rewarding yourself after reaching each one. Whether you’re reviewing one chapter or mastering five key terms, reward yourself for hitting each milestone. This small prize can be as simple as a snack break, an episode of your favourite show or scrolling on TikTok (but set a timer so doom-scrolling doesn’t ensue).
Another trick is using visuals to simplify complex concepts. Create colourful mind maps, flowcharts or diagrams to connect ideas or draw out processes to help visualize how they work.
If you’re more of an auditory learner, try recording yourself summarizing the material and listening back while commuting or walking to class. Hearing the information in your own voice can reinforce it in a surprisingly effective way.
Personally, my favourite way to study is with others—nothing beats having friends quiz me to test my recall. There’s something about the pressure of answering questions on the spot that really helps the material stick. Plus, it’s a great way to figure out what I know and what I need to focus on.
The key to effective studying is finding what works for you and keeping things interesting. Studying doesn’t have to feel like a chore—sometimes it’s just about adding a personal twist that keeps you motivated and engaged.
Collaborate with the people around you – Lillie Coussée – News Editor
I find the best ways to learn come from the people around you. That’s why forming good relationships with your professors and classmates is key to staying on top of your workload. Don’t be afraid to lean on people when you need help.
In my experience, most professors want their students to succeed. As long as you’ve shown up to class and put work in, they’ll try to help out as much as they can. Reaching out and asking questions—like “What key topics should I focus on and which readings should I take a closer look at?”—is a good way to gain some insight into the main points of an upcoming exam.
Normally on the last day of classes, professors will outline which chapters and lectures will be on the final, as well as its format. Try to attend this crucial class to gain some insight. If you can’t make it, ask a friend to take notes for you!
Speaking of friends, it’s super-valuable to lean on classmates and friends during this time. Study groups are a great way to absorb information and split up the workload.
In my second year, I took a political philosophy course that was definition-heavy and had complicated theories. I made friends in the class and we each chose a topic to make a mini presentation on. A couple of days before the exam, we got together to present and teach one another our topic. This was a great way to be reminded of the key theories and made studying more enjoyable.
Take advantage of TMU’s accommodation services – Khushy Vashisht – Communities Editor
With only one semester left until I graduate, I never had the chance to use TMU’s accommodation services…simply because I didn’t know they existed.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been several times during my degree when these resources could have helped me out if I knew how to use them. During my third year in the journalism program, I had three final summatives due on the same day—one of them being at 5 p.m. and the other two at 11:59 p.m. The assignments spanned from in-depth essays to creating long-form video content and more. While I was able to hand two in on time, the third was submitted past midnight and the night ended with me profusely apologizing to my professor.
But it didn’t have to be that way and it doesn’t have to be that way for you either.
TMU has various tools to support students with assignment and exam deadlines. The first is Academic Accommodation Support (AAS), which according to the university’s website, “helps to reduce barriers and promote accessibility.”
Students with disabilities have to register with AAS at the start of each semester using their school email and are required to submit disability documentation that is completed by “a healthcare practitioner who is qualified to make the diagnosis.”
AAS can provide students with accommodations such as extensions, peer-note taking, extra time on tests and other forms of academic support.
Another valuable resource open to any student is Academic Consideration Requests (ACR).
If facing extenuating circumstances, students can submit a request for alternate arrangements on assignments, exams and more. Every student can use this accommodation once per semester without needing to attach any documentation. More information can be found on TMU’s website.
So, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Use the services and resources that, as a student, you have access to!
Practice wellness – Jasmine Makar – News Editor
Exam season can be a really difficult time, not just academically but physically, mentally and emotionally. The sheer amount of a semester’s work and assignments layered with exams and the pressure to perform well can really weigh on a person’s well-being.
I found myself struggling with this when I had to write my first-ever university exam. The buildup of pressure and the fear of failure—along with the lack of sleep—led me to freeze the moment the exam hit my desk.
During the hours following that exam, I reflected on what had happened and why I wasn’t able to perform to the best of my abilities. This was probably the most defeating moment of my university career so far. I wasn’t alone though, many other people feel the same stress and pressure—and you’re not alone either.
It’s also important to note that your grades do not define you. We all want to do well in school, and although one or two bad grades will feel terrible in the moment, you’ll move past it and grow from the experience.
Sacrificing your mental health for an exam can sometimes lead to a worse performance and having a preventative approach through the studying process is one of the best ways to prevent burnout.
Take a break every once in a while, grab ice cream or a warm comforting meal with your friends, see your family and then come back to your notes. This is definitely easier said than done— sometimes I still have trouble practicing wellness myself—but making that extra effort to take care of yourself can make all the difference.
Having a support system is vital. Even if it’s just one trusted individual, having someone to talk to can really improve your experience. The university also offers a few different programs under its Student Wellbeing page, including ThriveTMU and counselling services.
How to make it through the big day – Daniel Carrero – Sports Editor
If you’re a procrastinator and an over-thinker like me, I get it. Studying will always be one of the hardest tasks for me as a student. I can’t sit down for more than two hours on my laptop to study a topic that I realized I lost interest in after the second week of the semester.
Still, those grades are important, so whether you study the night before or even prepare for the exam weeks in advance (could never be me), here are two key steps to follow on the day of the exam to ace it—again, could never be me.
Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep the night before the big day—being hypervigilant and running on the Monster energy drinks you consumed at 3 a.m. is not the best idea. Being calm and confident going into an exam will force you to trust yourself. You did your best to prepare for the exam, so listen to your gut.
I am the type of person who studies better under pressure—and I know I’m not the only one—so testing myself has been a good tool. This semester I had a psychology class that became increasingly hard over the course of the term since I didn’t have a lot of time to study. My friend in the class, who’s a psychology major, became my studying mechanism for both of the tests we had. We would quiz ourselves with random questions from the lecture slides, and if we couldn’t answer, we would break down the concept together.
In the end, we both got very similar results, above the class average as well. Hopefully, these tips will work for you too and can help you ace your exams.
Give yourself a post-exam treat – Mitchell Fox – Sports Editor
Trust me, I understand it is hard to celebrate our wins. Nothing ever seems perfect and it can feel like there’s always more to do. But when it comes to exams, there doesn’t have to be.
If you’re wrapping up the last assignment for that class, it means you’ll be free when you’re done writing—even if you have another exam.
It’s important to give yourself the peace of mind that you freakin’ did it. You pushed through all the stress of the last few weeks of the semester and put your best foot forward during the exam. Now, you deserve to relish in that and take some time for yourself.
I remember at the end of the fall semester of my second year, I only had one exam. It was a cold, miserable commute and I spent hours sitting alone at the Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre—preparing for a long three-hour exam in a Kerr Hall East classroom. When it was done, I went outside to the Kerr Hall Quad and everything felt different. I was free, and suddenly the snow was something to catch, not grumble about. I texted my girlfriend and my parents, headed to Union Station, picked up a treat from Tim Hortons and started working on finding Christmas gifts for my family. It was time to lock in… and enjoy the freedom of the holiday break.
For me, treating myself means turning my brain off and trading reading through notes for watching a hockey game, calling my brother or having something nice or fun to eat. And especially if you’re a commuter, yes, you deserve that cheat meal at the Eaton Centre food court—or simply a nap. It doesn’t matter what the activity is, as long as it doesn’t involve thinking about the exam you just completed.
Even if you have another exam on the horizon, you deserve to take a moment to reward yourself, if only in the smallest or simplest of ways. It’s about allowing yourself a positive mindset for an hour, an evening, a day—whatever you need to rest and reset your mind.
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