For students resitting exams
Challenges faced
Students often tell us they find the following things challenging during summer exam prep:
- Feeling isolated: It can be harder to study without your peers around. Studying with others can help you stay motivated and on track, but many students find this more difficult over the summer.
- Negative feelings about resits: It's natural to feel disappointed or disheartened, but remember: making a second attempt doesn’t define your ability or potential, it's just one step in your learning journey.
- Uncertainty about who to ask for help: You might feel unsure where to turn now that some staff and services have reduced availability.
- Uncertainty about how to revise: If revision didn't go well the first time, you may feel stuck on how to improve, but support is available to help you move forward with confidence.
For further resources including the past paper repository, see the central exam guidance page below:
How we can help
Study Advice Appointments
Meet with one of our college-specific advisers for tailored advice on how to plan and revise effectively:
Maths & Stats Appointments
Friendly advisers to help you prepare for any calculations, maths or stats in your upcoming exams:
Online Resources
Slides and recordings with advice on revision strategies, dealing with panic in exams and procrastination:
Getting ready for next year
If this year's assessments didn't go as you'd hoped, it can really help to take some time to think about how you want to approach next year's courses and how you can navigate any potential challenges. We recommend:
- Planning to ask for help early if needed with both academic and personal challenges. Ensure you have contact details for:
- Your College's Student Support Officers
- Your Adviser of Studies
- Your subject teaching staff
- Student Learning Development
- The Counselling and Wellbeing Service
- The Disability Service
- Familiarising yourself with your course: check the course outline, intended learning outcomes (ILOs), and assessments ahead of time using course handbooks or induction materials. If you're unsure where to find these, check with teaching staff on your course.
- Attending classes offered by Student Learning Development we offer a range of classes and 1:1 appointments to help with academic writing, research and study
- Seeking help with time management, organisation and procrastination. These can be really challenging: you may find the Counselling and Wellbeing Service’s workshops useful, or make a 1:1 appointment with your College Effective Learning Adviser