General advice for exams

Preparing for exams

Good exam preparations start during the period of teaching. If you do your best to study during each of your courses, you may be able to avoid situations in which you have a lot of catching up to do before starting to revise for exams.

Planning your exam period

  • Get a good overview of the work you have to do: Make sure you know exactly what you have to do before your exams, and do this in plenty of time. Can you produce any good, useful notes during the teaching period that can make your revision for exams more efficient? You can find more inspiration for taking notes here
  • Check the academic regulations for the courses in which you are to be examined: You will find the requirements and learning objectives for each course in the course catalogue. Read more at AU Course Catalogue
  • Plan and prioritise your time for all your exams: Find out how much time you have to revise for each exam, and do this in plenty of time. Plan which days you are going to read which pages and do which assignments to ensure that you complete everything on time – and stick to your plan! If you don’t have enough time to do everything you want to do, how can you prioritise the most important things? 
    If you plan everything in plenty of time, you can divide your revision up over a longer period of time. This will give you a better overview of the syllabus, reduce your workload before your exams, and help you to avoid too much stress and nervousness.
  • Draw up a weekly timetable: Make a general plan for the exam period as well as a more detailed plan (a weekly plan, for instance). A plan can contain everything you need/want to do each hour – or it can consist of a general timetable (study each day from 08.00 to 16.00, for instance). You need to find out what works best for you and what suits you best during an exam period. You will find examples of weekly plans and other information here
  • Expect the unexpected! Even though you do your best, there is a chance that your revision will be interrupted occasionally. So it may be a good idea to have an extra buffer in your timetable, giving you the chance to catch up on the things you don’t manage during the week. You could allow a few extra hours each week, or an entire day every now and then.
  • Use your study group: You can use your study group in lots of different ways. During the exam period it is sometimes a big advantage to discuss your thoughts about exams with your study group or one or more of your fellow students. How can you prepare as well as possible? Describe your success stories. Can you help each other during the exam process? Can you work out a joint plan for your exams?
  • Are you sure you know what the exam criteria and requirements involve? Ask your teacher or examiner if you can’t find the answers to any questions you might have about exams (for instance in terms of their content or form). It’s better to ask questions than to have doubts or draw the wrong conclusions.
  • Make sure you know all about the practical details for your exams (where and when they will be held, how long they will last, how much preparation time you will be allowed, and what kind of exam aids will be permitted).

Oral exams

  • Plan your exam revision period carefully and realistically. Read more under the heading “Preparing for exams”
  • Practising for oral exams. Once you have produced your notes or plans for oral exams, it’s a good idea to practise for each possible topic at home or in your study group. 
    There’s a big difference between having the syllabus completely under control when you’re reading or writing, and actually presenting it orally. Your notes might contain expressions which are difficult to pronounce without getting in a muddle, which may make you even more nervous and tense. You should change any such expressions into something that’s easier to actually say at an oral exam – or practise saying them until you can pronounce them with conviction. It’s important that you practise presenting your material before your oral exam. It’s the same as working with previous exam assignments before a written exam.
  • Picture what a good exam looks like for you. Imagine how you will do the exam to ensure that it’s a success. Create your own inner film (like a pleasant daydream), imagining how you will enter the room, say hello to your teacher and co-examiner, start your exam and so on. If you have had a bad experience with one specific aspect of an exam, picture how you will handle this in a constructive, calm manner. This might involve taking a deep breath and/or allowing plenty of time to check your notes. Picture yourself as you calmly get back on track during the exam.
  • I don’t understand the question: Don’t panic if they ask you a question you don’t understand. You can always ask them to explain. Your examiner or co-examiner will try and explain what they want, and this often becomes clearer when they express themselves in different terms.
  • Present your exam plan: It may be a good idea to start your oral performance by presenting the points you want to talk about. This is one way of controlling your performance, and it will also help the examiner and co-examiner get you back on track if necessary.
  • When the mist descends: You’re the only person who can see the mist descending when you simply have no idea what to say next. If you’re very nervous and can feel that this is happening, just be honest about it and tell your examiner. Some people benefit from actually telling the examiner that they’re nervous before oral exams start. Just saying the words sometimes helps people to get their nerves under control. Your examiners will also do what they can to help. You can also ask for a glass of water, or ask the examiner or co-examiner to repeat the question. 
  • Negative thoughts about yourself: Take a few deep breaths and talk to yourself in a positive frame of mind. For instance, you can try replacing your negative “here-and-now” thoughts by more positive and realistic thoughts. Tell yourself that you’ve worked hard, and that the main thing is to do the best you can.
  • After the exam. Evaluate your oral performance. What went well before the exam? What went well during the exam? What went less well, and what steps can you take to do better next time? Where do your challenges lie, and what do you need to focus on in particular? You can also evaluate exams that you did before starting at university. Focus in particular on the exams that went well. What can you learn from these experiences, and how can they help you?

You can also find inspiration in the Study Metro’s Eight tips for oral exams (in Danish) and the Six steps leading to a good oral presentation (in Danish).

Written exams

In the text below you can read more about the steps you can take in connection with written exams.  

  • Plan your exam revision period carefully and realistically. Learn more under “Preparing for exams”.
  • Practising for exams. Do as many relevant exercises/previous exam assignments as possible, and make sure you’re on top of the syllabus.
  • Studying for exams with a study group: For instance, you can discuss any topics or issues which you’re uncertain about.
  • Use your study group: You can use your study group in lots of different ways. During the exam period it is sometimes a big advantage to discuss your thoughts about exams with your study group or one or more of your fellow students. How can you prepare as well as possible? Describe your success stories. Can you help each other during the exam process?
  • Negative thoughts block my path during written exams: Breathe deeply. Replace your negative “here-and-now” thoughts by more positive and realistic thoughts. Tell yourself that you’ve worked hard, and that the main thing is to do the best you can. Try and see your situation from a bird’s-eye perspective, writing down the steps you need to take to complete your exam assignment. Then take the first step and focus only on that. If you get stuck, leave the room, swing your arms around or jump up and down, and splash some cold water on your face. Say positive things to yourself and try approaching the assignment from a different angle. Don’t leave the exam early. Just do your best. 
  • I’m stuck: Take a break! During a written exam it’s absolutely normal to encounter challenges and minor crises – or even to suffer from writer’s block. Don’t panic – you can find a solution. Take a break to stretch your legs, go to the toilet, clear your head or have something to eat. The most important thing is to give your brain a rest so you can take a new look at the assignment with fresh eyes.
  • Evaluate your written performance: What went well before the exam? What went well during the exam? What went less well, and what steps can you take to do better next time? Where are your challenges, and what do you need to focus on in particular? You can also evaluate exams that you did before starting at university. Focus in particular on the exams that went well. What can you learn from these experiences, and how can they help you?