The time of examination at law schools can be truly difficult to cope with, especially for first and second-year law students, who are somewhat still getting used to handling such vast syllabi. In fact, for those who have refrained from studying consistently throughout the semester, it can be a massive challenge to cover the entire syllabus of multiple papers in a short duration. Needless to say, studying the law can be different from studying for other exams as one needs to have an in-depth understanding of the statute (multiple statutes for several subjects such as labour law, criminal law, etc.), the interpretation of those statutes, precedents, expert opinions, etc.
Handling all this under paucity of time can lead to severe exam stress, affecting the physical and mental health of the student. In this article, Team YLCC has brought you the do’s and don’ts of handling the exam stress at law school and to make your preparation more effective. Read on!
DO’S
- Starting Early
Getting a headstart on your law school exam prep well in advance is one strategy that can probably save you from a lot of stress and also ensure effective preparation. In fact, the single most important thing one can do to make exam prep easier is to get a jump on it as soon as possible. Most students who begin early can remain relatively confident during and in the time just before exams. The practice of leaving things till the last minute, or procrastination as it is popularly called, can have an adverse effect on your academic as well as professional life. Starting early on the other hand, will make sure you are not frantic and grasping at straws at the last minute by skipping meals and having sleepless nights.
- Create A Study Plan
One of the major challenges of law school exam preparation under pressure is its openended nature: it can be tough to track progress, or to know when you are done. Likewise, you likely do not have time to follow every review method that occurs to you. Invest some time at the beginning of the exam preparation process to develop a plan. Ask yourself some guiding questions like What do I know about the test? What course materials might be useful? How much time can I realistically devote to preparing for this exam?
With this information in mind, try to write down an outline of a study plan for the particular legal paper that contains SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound) steps. Try to order these steps so that you are covering the most important material first.
- Engaging With The Material
For many students, trying to read (or reread) all of their course materials is unrealistically timeconsuming and a recipe for wandering attention. Instead of taking a linear trip through your textbook, try to find ways to review information by applying it. For example, many law students prefer creating flash cards to help remember information like definitions, landmark judgements, etc. Some others try to explain a different concept to others for a better understanding.
- Prioritising Practice Exams
Although it does not help that most law schools in India don’t have a mechanism for practice exams or mock exams, there are plenty of quality resources available online. Taking practice exams not only shows you an honest evaluation of your own preparation, but also shows you where you’re lacking and which areas you should be confident in. In addition to this, most law schools do provide previous years’ question papers which can be used effectively to support your preparation. Be sure to always take practice exams under the same conditions as the actual exam, including time constraints. This will also help you get a fairly accurate idea of where you stand vis-à-vis your writing speed and time management.
- Take Care Of Your Health
It can be tempting to ignore things such as your health that are distractions from studying, especially once exams get really close. While this may not seem to be a priority given the pressure you are in, under no circumstances should you be neglecting your health. In fact, when preparing under duress, extra care should be taken of your body to make sure it can keep you functional. Without this, chances are your body will not be able to tolerate the intense brainwork. Doing this the right way includes taking the time to eat well and observing at least 6-7 hours of sleep.
- Prepare For Exam Day
Keep preparing for the exam, but do not forget to plan for the D-day. Remember to keep the essential things such as a pen, calculator, or even Admit card and ID card for the exam. You should plan for the exam a day before, like setting the alarm to wake up early for a quick revision, having a wholesome breakfast, reaching the exam centre on time, etc. It is good to keep all the exam essentials and documents in your bag the day before.
DON’TS
- Don’t Study In Bed
When is the last time you studied in bed and made substantial progress? Your last minute preparation should be hardcore, and that also includes your stance. Always prefer a table and chair for your preparation, irrespective of the comfort level. Studying on the bed is a strict no-no. Chances are you will feel dizzy in bed a while after studying rigorously. This can hamper your preparation and add to your stress. The bed is too much of a comfort zone and hence should be avoided when you are racing against a ticking clock.
- Refrain From Pulling All-Nighters
To the extent possible, avoid pulling all-nighters to aid your preparation. All-nighters have extensive and potentially serious negative effects. Sleep is vital to the proper functioning of the body, and completely skipping a night of sleep can harm your thinking and cognition, your mood and emotions, and your physical well-being. Pulling an all-nighter doesn’t just interfere with effective thinking; it also contributes to various mood problems. Sleepless nights are tied to increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which is associated with stress. Relatedly, sleep deprivation is linked with anxiety that can impact both mood and behaviour. Numerous other elements of emotional mood are worsened after one night without sleep. Anger and irritability are more common, and people are more likely to feel depressed and fatigued after an all-nighter as well.
- Avoid Using Social Media
In the time leading up to the exams, it is important to remain in a proper headspace which can be disturbed by things like social media and similar modes. It is important to not use social media as the internet can be very distracting and addictive. Try to stay away from social media before your exams as it tends to consume most of your time and energy. Switch off your mobile data, wifi or you can simply put the phone away in a drawer for better concentration till the time you have completed your preparation for the day. The lesser the interruptions, the better.
- Do Not Focus On Others’ Strategy
Many students keep asking their peers about all topics they have studied or how many books they have referred to for preparation. Such students may start feeling low or disappointed if they know that somebody has read more than them. This is just unnecessarily adding to your stress. Students should follow their timetable and study at their speed. If another student has completed a major portion of the syllabus, there is nothing to feel low! Maybe that student is just reading out and not studying seriously as you do. The idea is to hear but not listen as it is irrelevant to your preparation strategy- only you know what the best strategy for you is.
- Do Not Overthink
Overthinking at the last minute is futile- and harmful. You’ve done your best- even if it was last minute. You have put in the hours and now the only thing left to do is hope for the best. Overthinking about something that is no longer in your control is not only going to contribute to your stress but is also likely to mess with the information you already have invested hours to learn and retain. Try to remain calm and collected in the hours leading up to the examination- this will be a determining factor in your preparation.
Exams in law schools can be truly stressful, but the right approach and strategy can make sure that the situation is under control and you are not struggling to make an impact on what is bound to be a substantial curriculum. The aforementioned can furthermore help you keep stress at a minimum and focus entirely on your prep without worrying about extraneous factors.
YLCC would like to thank its Content Team for their valuable insights in this article.
