Exam essentials

Your path to success before, during and after the exam period

Whether you’re starting revision early or cramming after a well-earned Christmas break, the Libraries have a vast range of resources for before, during and after the exam period that will build your knowledge, confidence and resilience.

Successful preparation prepares you for success. And it helps that we’ve got your back.

Let’s do this!

Before exams

Did you know your libraries provide academic skills support covering everything from critical reading skills to how to nail referencing?

We also have an invaluable guide to revision and exams. This page provides guidance on setting yourself up for exam success. There are resources for revision planning and strategies, a handy blank revision planning template and a tutorial video to help you construct a revision timetable to fine-tune your study sessions.

If you are staying in Leeds over the winter break, you will still be able to use the libraries to study, borrow books and meet with friends. All libraries will be open until Tuesday 23 December. Laidlaw Library will reopen on Saturday 27, with the other sites following on 5 January. See our opening hours for more details.

The libraries can get a little busy during exams, but you can use Spacefinder to find your place. You can perform custom searches for your ideal revision spots or check out the display screens at each site to check our current occupancy levels.

Remember, hot food is not allowed in the libraries. However, Customer Services will provide free tea throughout the exam period; all you need to do is bring a lidded cup. Cheers!

Exams can be tough for everybody, so please make sure you respect your fellow students by keeping noise to a minimum in Silent Space.

Exam day

Our revision and exam page also has a rundown of how to write in exams. This is a practical guide with activities and advice on how to break down questions and plan your answers to make sure you feel confident and write clearly. We also have handy downloads on how to plan your paragraphs and even how to impress examiners.

Our Skills@Library team has put together 10 tips to get you through the day. These tips will help you get mentally and physically prepared to deal with anything the examinations throw at you and will help you bounce back if you start to feel overwhelmed.

Speaking of which, don’t forget to take breaks. We have advice on looking after your mental health as well as Pause Spaces in all our libraries, where you can step away from the stress of revision to recharge and refocus.

After exams

You’ll deserve a much-needed break after exams, so the libraries might be the last place you want to think about. That’s okay, we get it. But we still have some resources to help you.

For starters, your library login gets you access to the BFI Player and Kanopy, so you can relax with some cinematic masterpieces.

And when you’re ready, we can also help you with whatever feedback or results you got from exams. The Skills@Library team offers one-to-one sessions for you to get expert advice on essay feedback as well as peer-to-peer support with academic writing in the Writing Space.

We also have maths and stats support and digital skills appointments if your technical skills need some upgrades. And make sure to check out the Skills@Library workshops calendar for in-person and online sessions covering everything from academic writing to AI.

Remember, the Libraries are here to help you. If you have any questions about the support available, just ask a member of staff or contact us on Webchat.

Good luck and we’ll see you on the other side!