Pressure of Coursework and Tests

I knew my course would be a mixture of coursework and exams, at the start of my course i was not initially worried about the coursework or exams. I have always felt more confident in coursework than exams, so i was not so worried about the coursework and more worried about the exams. 

When i received my first coursework assignment i felt confident in that i knew what i needed to do and this made me very confident and i started to think that all my assignments might be quite easy after all. My second assignment came as a bit of a shock because it was significantly harder than my first. This is when i started to panic a little. I then knew that i simply had too work hard and hopefully the results would follow. 

On top of the coursework i then started to worry about the exams that i had coming, i knew then that i needed to manage my time better so that i was giving the more difficult modules more time. As i start to do this i think that the pressure of coursework and exams will become less. 

So far i have received a few coursework tasks and have had a couple of exams. I think that the workload has been manageable but i know that it will increase and so to make sure that i stay on top of it i will need to make sure that my time management is very good. 

The Pressure of Tests & Coursework - William Davis

For the start of the Autumn term I felt very confident in my work, finding the courses easy I had no worries about it. From receiving my first piece of coursework however, this perception changed greatly. The work felt like it was collecting far too quickly with tightly packed deadlines that I felt I would be unable to meet in the time frame. With two exams added to the mix as well I felt a fear of failure.

Overcoming my initial panic, I devised a plan. Taking each piece in turn I worked through them confidently. Upon the success of finishing the first item, my workload seemed to half and the whole task seemed more manageable. Working through them all I found the work easier than I had first anticipated and completed it all with time to spare.

For the exams I felt a familiar fear in the lead up to it, having always being slightly unnerved by exams. This was more prevalent for the Academic Skills exam where my natural instinct to revise could not be fulfilled, resulting in a build up of stress. This worry continued into the exam where it lead me to rush slightly too much at stages due to worries about getting the work done.

Overall I found the workload manageable but it does leave me with some concerns over later requirements where more will be required in similar time frames. However I remain confident that if I plan my time and begin work on each task when I receive them that I will be able to meet the requirements.

coping with the stress of the work load of the first term and exams.

My first term here

In my time here  I have maintained a steady mind and mood. When it came to studying for exams and writing essays I made sure that I would understand the things that I am learning, even trying to catch up on anything I have missed. I have used my usual methods of coping with stress which are socialising and joking around with mates, by doing this, my studying was more efficient. I did one hour of studying and then gave myself some free time just in-case I get distracted too much, by doing this it made my mind refreshed and ready for the next full hour of studying. I was a bit worried over my maths exam but I hit the target I was looking for and this made me very proud of hitting the first target I have set for myself in university and so by hitting the target made me very confident in the rest of my maths classes even though it was not a high score and it was only 40 but I was really worried because I have never learnt any of this maths before unlike everyone else so I was proud of the result.

And in my other classes I am hitting the target I have set for myself so I am finding it very enjoyable and I am happy with the work I am doing. I am improving in many different ways such as being able to work at home is a massive improvement than before coming here because I was in a college environment  for such a long time and I never had to study for an exam or do any homework for a long time so being able to hit the targets I set for myself had me feeling very happy and less stressful then before I came. This has got  me more use to the work load, I know there will be more work ahead but I am feeling less stressful going into the next term then I was when I started.

So I believed I handled the workload and the studying for exams very well, but I have had trouble going to some lessons because I was not getting enough sleep and this is because of  over thinking if I have passed or not but hopefully it won’t be the same next term and I can have a clear mind and be refreshed for next year when this holiday is over.

ifp blog 2 group 7

Blog 2 - The Pressure of Tests & Coursework.

The subject of our second blog is the Pressure of Tests & Coursework. Please take time to think about the pressure or stress that you have (or haven't) been under thus far this term. Has the workload been too heavy or has it been manageable? What can you do to lighten the load and make life easier for yourself? What concerns do you have about your workload and what expectations of future workload? 

Please plan your thoughts in Word first so you can check you spelling, grammar, and punctuation before posting. Although a blog can be less formal than a normal piece of writing, try to use language thoughtfully watch for overly simplistic language and repetition and refrain from using slang etc. Spend some time on this as you will be using as a input source for a 'reflection' later and the quality of your blog entries will constitute part of that overall mark. 

Please feel free to make (respectful and thoughtful) comments on others’ posts but please refrain from insulting or offensive language - I will have to remove it and it may constitute an academic offence. Please note these posts can only be read by myself and the other students in your academic skills class, unless someone has the specific URL. 

This blog was supposed to be completed by the end of Week 10 but as I am a little late in getting it to you you can take up to the end of week 11 - so the new deadline is lunchtime Friday 13th.