I am two days into college, and I’m three lectures behind.

Aimee Carty, ‘2 Days into College’

Are you already feeling behind as soon as you start uni? Do you feel like everyone knows so much and is on top of their work? Are you still unsure of how to approach studying or where to begin? Or do you feel stressed about what study style suits you best? For whatever reason you might feel overwhelmed, PASS could be a good place to start.   

So, what exactly is PASS? 

You are not on your own, kid.

Taylor Swift, ‘You’re On Your Own Kid’

A common misconception about university life is that students, as they are now adults, have to handle things on their own. But this is not true. The University of Newcastle provides a wide variety of resources for students, from academic to mental wellbeing support.

What is PASS exactly, then? It stands for Peer Assisted Study Sessions, they are run by students for students. It is one of the valuable academic support resources offered by the university. They provide opportunities to compare notes, discuss challenging concepts, and review weekly material collaboratively.

So, if you haven’t started or finished your weekly tasks, PASS offers a recap of the week’s essentials and core concepts. It also addresses the challenging areas so you will know what you need to work on more. Or, if you don’t know which study style works best for you, you can experiment with different study techniques and try to assess their effectiveness by doing PASS questions to test your understanding. You can gauge your progress there and find out which methods suit you the most.

PASS offers a range of practice questions written by the PASS leaders (trained students who had great grades in your course previously). They write questions based on examinable content and high-yield topics, or topics with little mention in the lecture slides but are worthwhile knowing.

How does it help?

I promise that you’ll never find somebody like me.

Taylor Swift, ‘Me!’

Surveys and research were conducted around this topic that indicated an hour of face-to-face PASS is believed to be equivalent to three hours of solo study. This research also proved that students who attend PASS regularly do better in exams. Attending PASS can enhance your overall performance by improving analytical skills, boosting motivation, and facilitating exam readiness. Interestingly, the University of Newcastle is not the only university that uses PASS. Universities across Australia offer similar programs.  

 The PASS service offers a two-way learning process. Lecturers may be interactive, but there will be some limitations (such as time) with a big class. You could email them, but PASS is the only place where you can get help right away. PASS leaders are approachable and eager to help. Hence, PASS is suitable for students of all academic levels.  

PASS is, in fact, more than a study session. It is a safe space where you don’t need to feel embarrassed about asking questions or admitting uncertainties. It is also a place where you can make friends and where you have students (who can relate to you) to support you instead of feeling intimidated.

Ei’s experience attending PASS

I was enchanted to meet you.

Taylor Swift, ‘Enchanted’

For two years, as a second-year medical student, I have actively participated in PASS sessions. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that it is my most-used student support resource. My course offers both face-to-face and online PASS sessions, with recorded sessions available for review. They usually last from one to two hours, and they are conducted towards the week’s end.  

Our PASS sessions usually start off with Kahoot quizzes made from our lecture content. I personally think it is a nice warm-up before we do the practice questions. PASS leaders are friendly and approachable, and help is always available, whether we do it individually or as a group. Furthermore, we get to know how they approach a challenging topic, and we also learn valuable tips, tricks, and mnemonics along the way. My favourite part of PASS is that our PASS leaders are students in their clinical years, and they usually try to relate their clinical knowledge to the theoretical concepts we are learning for us to understand better.  

Long story short, PASS helps me find the right study method for me and improve my study habits. PASS practice questions offer a manageable overview of the weekly content, but you still cover every important bit. I feel like I can pass my course with a grade of over 80%, thanks to PASS.

Who are PASS leaders? 

Lean on me, when you’re not strong…

Major Lazer & DJ Snake, ‘Lean On’

Ever wondered who leads those PASS sessions you see advertised around campus? If you have attended at least one PASS, you know that we’re actually students, just like you! We aced a particular course (think Distinction!) and are now here to guide you through it, using our own experience.   

Think of us as your student-based first connection to the network of university services and staff.   

We’ve been through the challenges of that same course, so we know exactly where you might stumble. We have stories (ours and others) that we can share about it and tips on what helps overcome those challenges…  

But we’re not just walking encyclopedias. We’re also here to bridge the gap between you and the academic team, especially in large classes where one-on-one chats can be tricky.   

Our mission goes beyond academic goals, though. We’re also here to foster a strong student community at Uni. I remember starting Uni in the middle of the year, I found it difficult to connect with my cohort because I am always split between 2 years of the degree. PASS is great for this. As PASS leaders, we are only here to help develop solid study habits, but more importantly, we want you to feel like you belong.   

On top of your academic work, navigating the maze of student support services can be overwhelming. To be honest, I still (re)discover one every week! So don’t worry, we’ve all been there, and we’re trained to redirect you to the right support, whether it’s academic or personal. Think of us as your buddies in this exciting, yet sometimes disorienting university experience.

Yas’s experience as a PASS leader 

To me, connecting with the vibrant first-year cohort was truly rewarding. Their fresh perspectives remind you that the university is a unique community with its own set of rules, expectations, and available support systems.   

The best part is that you are also supporting your PASS leader by attending! It’s not a one-way relationship, think of it as mutual support. As students, PASS leaders also have to study other courses, and they might discover new ways to problem solve by watching you tackle your assignments!   

Plus, who knew you could bond with people studying completely different subjects?   

Becoming a PASS leader is an incredible journey. You’ll meet a diverse bunch of fellow leaders, each with their own unique backgrounds. We share tips on how to make our sessions engaging, resources and experiences on what we struggle with. Sharing experiences with PASS leaders from other degrees, despite our contrasting fields, was a real eye-opener.   

On top of that, you’ll get to form a long-lasting relationship with academics that you will nurture after you stop leading sessions!  

Being a PASS leader gives you a glimpse into how courses are conducted by lecturers. It’s incredibly fulfilling to collaborate with the academic team and brainstorm solutions to student assignment struggles. 

The lowdown

Let’s get it started.

Black Eyed Peas, ‘Let’s Get it Started’

There are over 50 courses offering PASS sessions across the University of Newcastle campuses. Usually commencing in the second week of the semester, they run multiple times a week (although it may vary with your degree), so that you can attend as many sessions as needed.   

For more information about PASS, click here.

The PASS timetable can be accessed here.  

If PASS is offered for your course, there will be a module on your Course Canvas site.

Written by Ei and Yas