Exam and Assessment Tips

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Top tips to help you out during exam and assessment season

Monday, 11 May, 2026

As another academic year draws to a close, many students are faced with end of year assessments and exams.

At BSU, we recognise that this can be a stressful time, which is why we’ve spoken to a range of students, staff and alumni to get some helpful hacks, tricks and wellbeing tips during exam and assessment season.

Graduate Tips

Recent graduates provide an excellent source of knowledge when it comes to assessments and exams, given the recency through which they’ve gone through the process. As part of BSU’s Graduate Scheme, several students remain working on-site and continue to apply their skills learnt during their studies in the real world.

Speaking about how he managed deadlines during the end of the academic year, Media Communications alumni and Graduate Communications and Events Officer Max Brown said:

“My top tip would be to meet your soft deadlines! This really helped me to break down a big project into chunks and made the whole process feel less overwhelming. Your lecturers also want the best for you, so make use of their support. They kept me on track when I needed it and were always so positive. It's also important to take breaks and spend time doing the things that you enjoy - you'll come back to your work with a fresher brain!”

Fellow Graduate Scheme Member, and BSU Forensic Science graduate Mia Jarvie added:

“I found assignment periods particularly stressful, especially as most of my work was essay-based with high word counts! One strategy that really helped was scheduling short breaks to avoid burnout.

When I had multiple projects and deadlines at once, particularly in my final year, I would take a brief break and then switch to a different task or assignment. This helped me avoid becoming overwhelmed and allowed me to return to each piece of work with a fresh perspective, reducing mistakes that can happen when you spend too long on one task!”

Wellbeing

Mia now works in BSU’s Wellbeing Services, with support constantly available to those students who need it, not just during exam and assessment season, but throughout their university journey.

Joel Staley, Deputy Head of Student Wellbeing Services, reflected on the challenges students face during this time:

“Assessment season can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Taking small steps to look after your mental health and wellbeing - whether that's building in breaks, staying connected with others, or simply being kind to yourself - can make a real difference. If you're struggling or just need someone to talk to, Student Wellbeing Services is here for you. You can book an appointment through MyWellbeing, come to the SWS Pop-in in the Student Hub at Newton Park, or call the 24/7 Student Wellbeing Helpline on 0800 028 3766.”

Prioritising wellbeing during assessment season is vital to

Further Support

As well as wellbeing services, there are a number of other areas where support can be found. One such team, Academic Skills, can support with a range of queries at this time of year, either in-person or online.

Speaking about the support available, Senior Learning Development Advisor Carolyn Richards said:

"You can contact our friendly Academic Skills (ASk) team for support with exam prep and assessment queries. We offer appointments Mon – Fri (online & in-person) which can be booked via our website or you can drop-in to speak with an advisor (Commons G06 or online daily between 11.30am – 1.30pm). We also have lots of resources on our Ultra site and a helpful video that covers our five ‘top tips’ for exam success!"

Key Takeaways

1. Meet soft deadlines – Break down projects into manageable chunks to avoid burnout
2. Take breaks – Step away and take a breath, prioritise your mental health during this period
3. Stay connected with others – Don’t isolate yourself, working with others or simply taking a break to chat can help you reset
4. Be kind to yourself – Don’t work yourself into the ground, everything in moderation
5. Utilise support – Whether it’s tutors, peers or other staff members, everyone wants to see you succeed and there is a range of support available to power you through

Good luck to all those students entering their exam and assessment stage, we’re Bath Spa Proud of you all.