*This blog post contains details of a gifted item , all opinions expressed in the below article are my own opinion.
It’s no secret how hard remote learning, revising, and studying is, especially when there is a lack of tutor support, pandemic uncertainty, and constant feelings of loneliness. I was never an ‘exams’ person and to this day, I still have not overcome my exam anxiety completely.
Each ACA (associated chartered accountant) exam I have sat has made me nervous to the point of questioning whether I can get through this exam and pass the first time, this year I’ve found revising for my upcoming Management Accounting exam to prove harder than usual. I have developed some tried and tested methods to prepare and pass exams online. Read about them below.
The challenges I’ve faced during remote revision for a professional exam have been:
- Focusing. I’ve noticed a decline in my stamina for focusing per revision sitting, having ‘good’ and bad study days with some days being able to learn a lot of different topics, practice long questions and multiple-choice questions, and some days just covering one chapter is all I can manage.
- Struggling to switch off from revision and actually relax. With offices, coffee shops, libraries, and other public places shut I’ve been constrained to revising in my bedroom (my place of sleep) or the living room (my room for eating, watching Netflix, chatting to friends/family).
- Access for additional help or a tutor. With lectures being held remotely on Zoom or pre-recorded before COVID, it has been an obstacle to get questions answered or support from a tutor for my qualification
- My study routine not being 100% or the top of its game. Call it pandemic fatigue, zoom fatigue, or my mental health declining, studying has been a 100% mental challenge for me, it’s tested my perseverance and my ability to stay calm and focused.
Whilst I’ve had challenges, I honestly think there are positives to take from this experience too, even if it means having to adapt to learning in a new way. I’ve found remote exams to be flexible (I can sit my exam whenever remotely), more time than normal to revise and I’ve connected with more individuals outside of my work who are going through the exact same thing as myself.
Here are my top tips on how to prepare and study for online exams:
1. Choose your study spot in your home and don’t be afraid to change your work environment
In normal times, I would use a focus booth in my office as the place that I’d study for my ACA exams – it was perfect – no distractions, space to myself, I associated that environment with working and studying, took frequent tea breaks or quick 5 minute walks to get snacks nearby. During the lockdown, I’ve struggled to find the same type of study space and have been alternating between using the sofa, using the desk in my bedroom, and going to the office safely (I’d get Uber or Ryan would offer to drop me off).
A study space that has worked for me has been a space that is different from a space I relax in, has a desk, good lighting, limited distractions, and a good WIFI connection. Check out how I created my work from home office space here. Some days, you might not be able to use this space because you’re living with flatmates, co-working with a significant other, living with family and in this instance, I’d highly recommend utilising the office or trying to find a secondary study spot to alternate between – this could be the dining table, the sofa, a spare room, etc.
The most important aspect of a study space is using it for study and trying not to use the same space to eat in or relax so that you can try to have another part of the home to relax in.
2. Creating a revision routine with a daily desk pad and sticking to a revision goal a day
There are days during lockdown and the pandemic when you will feel alone or feel like you are failing. Those are the days when you need to be kind to yourself. Studying currently is more difficult than usual. I was so grateful to have discovered The Design Palette and their daily desk pad*. It has helped me so much the past month with staying on top of revision and my job.
The way I use my daily desk pad is by writing a normal to-do list. I decide which chapters I’m struggling on, or need to do another attempt at. Then make sure that I cover the question bank, other revision tasks also could be watching lectures for a specific long question or completing a mock exam under timed conditions. I love how I can make my to-do list time bound by inserting when I do the task during the day (i.e I’ve attempted MI Chapter 11 at 11 am).
Another way a desk pad can help you stay organised and on top of revision is by using a different coloured pen and separating revision tasks to admin tasks, your day job roles and responsibilitie Or emails/phone calls and chores that you need to do.
Don’t feel bad for not finishing everything on your to-do list. Just focus on one revision goal a day. A revision goal could be going through Variance Analysis multiple-choice questions or completing a mock paper under exam conditions.
Don’t feel bad for not finishing everything on your to-do list. Just focus on one revision goal a day
3. Stay focused with genius website app Focusmate
One thing I wish I could do differently during the lockdown would be to have used Focusmate a lot sooner. It’s been an absolute life-changing app and has helped me hugely with my revision efforts.
Focusmate is essentially a website that allows you to book 50-minute focus sessions with professionals, students, CEOs, software engineers who work at start-ups, and absolutely anyone who is also doing their job, studying for an exam, working on a passion project, or just wanting to have an accountability partner to help them tick tasks off their to-do list. It’s very disciplined – you discuss at the beginning of each session what you would like to achieve, mute your microphone throughout the session, and at the end celebrate both individuals’ achievements.
As someone who thrives on social contact and really enjoys meeting new people, I’ve found this to be the best thing to help me stay focused during a time when I’ve not been able to see my friends or family.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling mentally, academically, or in any shape or form.
You’ve likely heard this from many people time and time again, but no one should suffer from studying alone. I have found Management Information to be extremely hard as a topic and studying during a Winter lockdown and decided to get a private tutor. Whilst I understand that I am fortunate to have the economic resources to pay for a tutor who can help me with topics I’ve been struggling with on a 1:1 basis, help can come in so many different forms.
Help can come from your tutors, your employer (if you’re doing a professional qualification and working with a company speaking to your Coach and the person in charge of exam management), Facebook study groups, close friends, university helplines, professors, mentors, etc.
You never know how a person can help you – whether it be to explain a topic or just be a motivational support network.
5. Remember to take time out of revision in the evenings
As mentioned in my previous ACA revision posts, taking time out to not to revise will help you avoid exam burnout. It doesn’t have to be evenings if you revise better at night, but having a solid chunk of time during the day to do something completely different will give you the time you need to process the learning and revision.
I find baking, watching a film on Netflix, going for a long walk, and reading to be essential self-care activities to relax.
6. Do a test run of the remote exam before sitting it ( & don’t panic if you experience technical difficulties as it is not your fault)
I’ve actually done this step and can say that I still experienced technical difficulties and the embarrassing moment of ‘computer said no’ at the beginning of my Management Information exam.
For the ACA exams, you can sit your exam remotely using the OnVue system and Pearson will send you emails reminding you to check your test system. I passed the test system and was able to check-in to my exam which was essentially photographing the space I’d sit the exam, myself, and my form of ID. I’d go one step further and check the exams files download and that you are using a personal laptop, have a reliable WIFI connection and if you are currently living with someone – try to find a time when they will not be in the house or not be a distraction whilst you sit the exam.
Do not panic if the exam software does not work when you do the above, it could have failed for any possible reason from connection issues to your system blocking the exam software. Instead, contact Pearson and get a refund and think about when you would like to sit the exam when test centres re-open.
I hope you found these tips helpful and please do let me know if you need help staying motivated for exams – I’m always open for chats on Instagram! What is a challenge you’ve faced when studying for a remote exam?
