Either I know it or I move on: Charlotte's story
The exam period can be intense, but with good organisation and a balanced mindset, it becomes more manageable. Charlotte, a third-year management student at Solvay, shares her experience and tips for passing her exams while keeping a positive momentum.
Key points
- 🗓️ Flexible schedule: A general plan with goals per half-day to adapt to the unexpected.
- ⏳ Short study blocks: Sessions of 1h to 1h30 followed by 20-minute breaks.
- 🔄 Change of environment: Varying study locations to avoid monotony.
- ✍️ Active learning techniques: Summaries, flashcards, blank sheets and exercises.
- 🌱 Life/study balance: Evenings reserved for rest.
- 📖 Continuous preparation: Attending lectures and tutorials to limit stress.
- 🎯 Personal motivation: Keeping your goals in mind to stay motivated.
An adapted and flexible method
For Charlotte, the key to an effective exam period lies in an adjustable schedule:
- Split your days in two: One subject for the morning, another for the afternoon.
- Adjust the duration based on complexity
"For example, for a subject like physics in first year, I knew it required more time. So I dedicated longer periods to it."
A typical exam period day
⏰ Charlotte starts her day between 7am and 8am, and organises herself in short, effective study blocks:
- Study time of 1h to 1h30 followed by 20-minute breaks
- Meals taken with family to keep a natural rhythm
- Revision ends after dinner
Info
"Once the day is done, I put my course notes out of sight. I do something else, like going out or watching a film with my family. It helps me relax and maintain a balance."
Active learning techniques
Charlotte favours active methods to better absorb her courses:
- Summaries in two stages: A first full summary, then a condensed version 📝
- Flashcards: Used for all subjects, not just languages
- Practice exercises: Doing past exams to understand what's expected
- Active recall: Starting from a blank sheet and writing everything you know
Tip
"I like starting from a blank sheet 📄 and writing everything I know about a subject. It simulates the exam situation and forces me to really search for the information in my brain."
Balance between work and rest
Charlotte places great importance on her wellbeing during the exam period:
- Free evenings: Once the study day is over, she doesn't touch her course notes ❌
- Relaxing activities: Yoga or stretching, 1 to 2 times per week 🧘♀️
- Change of environment: Changing rooms regularly to keep spirits up 🌈
Warning
"The exam period is physically and mentally exhausting. The exam period is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to arrive at your exams with energy, not burned out."
Motivation and stress management
- Find a source of motivation 🎯: Ask yourself "Why am I doing this?"
- Manage stress: Accept that you're doing your best
- Key lesson: Learn to trust yourself
A message for you 🫵
Charlotte's advice
"The exam period is scary at first, but in the end we all got through it. You should see it as a time of year when you work hard but with a purpose that's your own." ✨
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