Most people experience pressure, stress and anxiety when it comes to exams. Whilst a certain amount of pressure is good for us and helps us to perform well, it is important to keep some balance and perspective.

To help听organise your revision time, read through the 听study guide in the Academic Skills Hub on Brightspace - planning ahead will mean you can keep to a sensible schedule. Check your assessment details via Brightspace听to ensure that you know exactly when they听are taking place. Don't feel you have to spend every waking hour studying, revising well means revising wisely and balancing work with exercise and relaxation. The library run听听throughout the year听-听these听are very interactive with lots of opportunities to ask questions - or you can on the website. We've also put together some tips and techniques below to help you to prepare for your exams.

Help yourself prepare for exams

Recognise the symptoms of stress

Stress suppresses your immune system so you're more likely to catch a cold or feel under the weather, which doesn't help your performance in exams. Temporary effects of stress听include:听

  • Lack of concentration
  • Inability to sleep
  • Difficulty in processing information
  • Irritability.

In high levels, stress can lead to mental health problems e.g. depression or anxiety. Check out the LiveWell website for more advice on听听or our information about听anxiety and听stress.听

Sources of support at BU

Most importantly, if you feel that your exam anxiety is building up to a point where sleep is difficult, your health is suffering or your relationships with your friends and family are affected you need to seek some help. Talk to your personal tutor or doctor. Support available on campus includes听Achieve@BU team,听Student Wellbeing,听Faith & Reflection听and听. You can also find further information on the听Health & Wellbeing听webpages or听read some of our BU student blogs for advice direct from a fellow students:

Free support outside BU

Student Assistance Programme

We鈥檝e teamed up with Health Assured to provide a free confidential helpline and digital resources to help you with any personal or student-related problems. Call the free 24-hour confidential helpline on 0800 028 3766 to speak to an experienced advisor who will offer support in a friendly, non-judgemental manner. You can also contact the service through call back request, email or manned live chat within the 鈥楳y Healthy Advantage鈥 mobile app, available on or . Visit the Student Assistance Programme page to find out more.

Student Space

Led by Student Minds, the UK鈥檚 student mental health charity, provides free, trusted information, tools and services to help you navigate the unique challenges to student life during the coronavirus pandemic. With听dedicated support services for students, by phone or text, email and webchat. They can help with issues around听managing uncertainty, learning online and making friends.听听

听There's also a range of other online support which you might find useful, such as: