Midterm time is here and all you students must be wondering how to prepare for the midterms while at the same time complete the assignments due for “that” course. As an engineer, I have learned a couple of tips on how to deal with this frenzy while at the same time maintaining your grades. Here are a few that you might find interesting:
Use your peers
Engineering has a very a challenging course load, which means that there are a lot of assignments and tests that the students have to be prepared to take. However, what most students from all faculties overlook is that there are thousands of other students who are in the same boat and are more than glad to give and receive help from you! If there are assignments due for a class, sit as a group of two or three and you will find that the assignments that you used to struggle by yourself with, will seem not so daunting. You will learn concepts that you are weak at and understand a concept better when you teach it to your peers.
“Go to class!”
UBC students generally have to deal with up to 6 hours of class hours per day, and this can be quite a task for students. However, class time is golden time — because it is one of the only face time you get with a professor. Try your level best to attend your classes and pay attention to your professors because they are a sanctuary of knowledge in their subject. They also cover a lot of material that is generally not uploaded in terms of class notes and they are very important for exams as well as assignments.
Take assignments seriously
Assignments are gold in terms of the practice they provide you with for any course. They act as a precursor to midterms and finals since those are the kind of questions you should be expecting in tests. Use them well and complete the additional problem that the professor gives you that are not for marks. They will boost your confidence and also increase your understanding of some key concepts not covered by the professor. No matter your faculty or discipline, smaller assignments and web posts give you an opportunity to see where you are in the course and whether you need to clarify concepts.
Don’t leave it to the last 24 hours
Whether it is assignments or midterms, do not leave the preparation for the last 24 hours. Be up to date with the content taught in class by revising the content every night after class. This way all you will have to do the day before an exam is revise those concepts and Voila! You are prepared for the exam!
These are just a few tips that helped me in my first year in engineering, but the take away points are for students of all faculties at UBC. If you are struggling with the course content this term, try implementing some of these and you will see the difference in your grades quite immediately.
HAPPY STUDYING!
