A group of students studying at their laptops

PASS exam sessions…what the?

It’s that time again, when uni feels like feeding time at the zoo. You finally handed in that final assignment, a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, you feel like you can breathe again.

But then you remember something… exams start in a matter of weeks.

How can you possibly prepare for a final exam in two weeks? You’ve been so busy you haven’t even given this any thought. Isn’t there something that can make all of this easier? Surely other students are feeling the same.

I’ve got good news for you. They do. And there is something that can help.

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A to-do list that says 'mainly procrastinate', with yellow, pink and blue blobs in the background

What the Heck is Life Admin?

Maintaining small life things throughout Uni can be tough; priorities shift and sometimes small important things become backed up until your personal admin snowballs.  Have you updated your address since you moved? Did that tax return form ever get submitted? Was that assignment due tonight or next week? This is the crux of what we call ‘life admin’.  I too struggled for a long time … Continue reading What the Heck is Life Admin?

7 secrets to exam success

It’s officially exam season, which means students are currently burying themselves in their course resources, desperately trying to remember how to hold a pen… or watching Netflix on the lounge at home. If you are, however, not one with the miraculous luck of studying a non-exam degree – or even if you’re preparing for an in-class test – the time for exam tips is now. Here are the 7 secrets to Exam Success, so that when the high score hunt comes you won’t be a sitting duck.

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How to get help when you feel like you’re in too deep

It may be tempting to dismiss your hardship as another problem that isn’t important, but it’s vital that you speak up because people can only help you if they actually know what’s going on. Luckily, the University has a bunch of services targeted at helping you overcome your challenges and find success. Speak with a Program Advisor Program Advisors provide support and enrolment advice throughout … Continue reading How to get help when you feel like you’re in too deep

Our favourite study spots on campus

Upsides of studying at home: Pyjamas, privacy, peace and quiet, Netflix, bed…

Downside of studying at home: How much study did you actually do?

Trekking to campus can sometimes be an effort, but the atmosphere of studying around other students has a tendency to switch you from procrastination into productive mode. Or maybe you don’t want to study near other students and read your textbooks in a Fortress of Solitude. Either way, you can find both of these on campus! Continue reading “Our favourite study spots on campus”

Exercise to Excel: 5 Tips to Improve Your Exam Performance

Our bodies were built for mobility! Not desk-bound modality! And the University of Newcastle’s very own Professor David Lubans would agree wholeheartedly. Composed and strong of posture, David very much walks the talk. Starting off as a passionate physical education teacher with a knack for Rugby League, he has now established himself as a researcher dedicated to promoting physical fitness. His recent project, Burn 2 … Continue reading Exercise to Excel: 5 Tips to Improve Your Exam Performance

How to get your diet sorted for exams

Exam time is easily one of the most stressful times of the semester. Between trying to balance study with everything else happening at this time of year, sometimes our diets can suffer. Whether we’re snacking on whatever we can find at Pinkies during a cram session or eating takeout because we don’t have time to cook, the exam season can mean that we might not always make the healthiest choices.

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Left in the (last-minute) lurch: avoiding assignment procrastination

We’ve all been there. Every single one of us. Don’t lie. Across all degrees in all universities, in all fields and colleges, there is one thing that unites the common student: our bittersweet love of procrastination. It’s the cornerstone of the uni student stereotype – 10 pm, leaning forward on the couch, leftover Thai on the table and Netflix on the TV, rushing an assignment … Continue reading Left in the (last-minute) lurch: avoiding assignment procrastination

That time I went to counselling: Demystifing Adverse Circumstances

At the end of the second semester of my second year of uni, I was struggling. I had some fairly unpleasant family drama come up in the middle of the semester and, as a result, I was feeling isolated and unmotivated which seriously impacted my work. I had dropped out of one course, had barely managed a credit in two others and was dangerously close … Continue reading That time I went to counselling: Demystifing Adverse Circumstances

Why you should take a break during exam season

To chill or not to chill… that is the question. The question riding on the fringes of everyone’s mind as exam pressure sinks in. We all share that student struggle. Taking a break feels more of a sin than a blessing. Winding down sparks more anxiety than it does abate it. Calming the mind adds worry rather than letting it dissipate. Should we allow ourselves … Continue reading Why you should take a break during exam season