Survive the exams

This type of exam is extremely stressful, as you have to get to the exam location first and find the right room. The waiting time causes then even more panic. Julia shares her experiences with you:

“My exams were always structured in the same way. I stand outside with other students, sometimes in the cold, sometimes in the sun, and we wait. At some point, one of the employees opens the door, we step in, split up and get ready. I take out all the utensils that I am allowed to use, store jacket and bag and turn my cell phone off. After the introduction, I uncover the exam sheets and work on the tasks as good as possible. And meanwhile – or shortly afterwards – I realize that it is not as bad as expected. And the feeling afterwards is simply liberating and relieving!”

Due to special circumstances, sometimes exams are taking place online at the moment. Inform yourself in time about the details of the exam and prepare for that – otherwise it will be stressful! Moiz talks about his exam and has some tips for you:

“I had a written exam via Zoom in the previous semesterWe were given three hours for the exam, which also included uploading the solutions as PDF to Moodle. We were divided into different breakout rooms on Zoom, each having a supervisor to answer our queries. An emergency contact number was also provided to report to the professor about any major issues such as internet or power breakdown. The best part for me was taking the exam right from my table – the place where usually my brain works the most."

Another type of exam that is conducted online is the oral exam. It’s worth practicing this type of exam before. Polina will tell you, how she prepared for her oral exam:

“As a humanities student, I have already had countless oral exams, they are indispensable in my field of studies. But I had an oral exam via Zoom for the first time and was very excited to see what it would be like. The exam situation is similar to attending Zoom meetings, which I was already used to. However, you have to remember that it is still an exam, and you are still being graded. Don’t just rely on your speaking talent, because in an oral exam, it is your technical knowledge that is being tested first and foremost.

So, think about the structure and the main points you want to make in advance – it will give you confidence. Also, be prepared for questions. I know from experience that oral exams can be quite exhausting, even though they usually last much less than written exams. During this time, however, you have to be highly concentrated and present at all times, and you have to be able to react quickly.

Another form of examination is term papers. Polina and Masha talk about their experiences with their favourite exam form:

“It is common for humanities students to have term papers instead of written exams. We have already experienced everything from 3 pages minor reports, middle-size essays, to 20 pages projects. This way of examination seems less stressful at first sight as you have plenty of time to prepare, but it does eventually require a lot of preparation and self-discipline. First, it is important to make sure you understand the requirements, to go as specific as possible with your research question and to narrow the topic down. Another important thing is that one shall never underestimate the time needed for the research! Researching often takes longer than actual writing. It also helps to structure your ideas regularly to not lose the big picture of a paper.

Finally yet importantly, there is the project seminar. Juan explains how he dealt with the challenges:

“I study Environmental Engineering where teamwork is a key to project success in professional life. With interdisciplinary project seminars, the university prepares me well for the after uni reality. In this type of exams, different professors from related fields design a project that students have to develop in groups and present the results in a report as well as orally – so it’s all about team work. For example, we once had to plan a new housing complex with a bus station in Roßdorf. During my first experience with one of these projects, I didn’t feel very confident with the language. Since you are working in groups, it is very likely that one of your team members is able to help you. Meanwhile, I have already experienced several project seminars and sometimes prefer them over stressful written exam.