Tips for Students Who Need Support for Both Written Homework and Upcoming Examinations
If you do have to do assignments in class, and you have a ton of written assignments due at the end of the week and a test coming up, you can end up having a full week’s worth of things to do. Research and thoughtful writing might be required by one assignment, and another deadline is nearing. While at the same time there is the need for revision, practice and concentration in exam preparation. Having to do both of these tasks can sometimes lead students to expend energy prioritising what to do first rather than doing it.
It’s not always time in the library! Help in maintaining the workload within limits can be provided by practical, better planning and understanding of personal limitations. Students feel ownership and control over their education through the use of tutoring, writing advice, feedback, practice tests and study planning. The focus is on finding support that will meet a genuine need, help to increase confidence in work, not on a short term get out of school/academic trouble.
When written homework occupies the whole week!
When multiple homework tasks are given simultaneously, it can be stressful. I think that all these items are easy as a discussion post and research task, a problem set and an essay — but if I am expected to do them all in a week, I’m down to studying for exams.
As students approach the deadlines, they might search for services by typing in expressions such as: do my homework. If you need to call in an expert, be sure to figure out what’s really holding you back. Maybe you need assistance to respond to the question, organise your thoughts, enhance your grammar, locate resources, or manage time. Specific support, not taking on responsibility for the entire task, is likely to be more effective.
A tutor or a writing specialist will be able to clarify your expectations, review how you are doing things and give you feedback on how to improve. This can ease time constraints, and it can be a learning experience, as well.
When an Upcoming Exam Changes Your Priorities
There is a particular way of preparing for exams that is different to normal homework. An assignment can consist of one completed work, and an exam can have you recall and apply knowledge of several topics.
If students feel under-prepared, they might seek services to take my exam for me. But relying on another individual to complete an evaluation can pose academic and personal risks. It’s more helpful to identify what topics you are not so strong on and find assistance for those.
Make a short list of topics you know a lot about, topics you know some about and topics you don’t know much about. This will give you a map to revise, not a random revision.
Match supports to problems
Specific Academic Support is the most effective academic support. If it’s maths, find someone who is aware of the syllabus for the subject area. If your challenge is academic writing, take a look at structure, argument, evidence and referencing tips.
You may use exam preparation, exam revision planning or exam practice answers (with tutor/feedback) as a support during the exam. Brainstorming, editing support, research assistance and guidance, and/or understanding of assignment requirements may be helpful for written assignments.
In addition to the support of students with challenging educational needs, academic support providers can help students in several other ways, as outlined by BAW (2022). That support needs to be useful; that is, is it really helping the student to face his or her challenge and is it helping the student to achieve academic growth?
Planning homework/revision a group activity
Don’t have two schedules for homework and test times. Place both of these into the same weekly plan, to obtain an understanding of where responsibilities overlap.
Plan a course of action and then go backwards from the fixed deadlines. If assigned, research, outline, draft and edit an essay in previous sessions for submission on Friday. In the meantime, find time to do short revision sessions for exams.
Allow for “catch as catch can” time. Things can’t always run smoothly, and a schedule with no margin for error can easily become unachievable.
Know how and when to ask for help and support
When studying, if you put it off till the very last minute, then the problems that need to be overcome will be difficult. If you are stuck on a question on which you have been working for hours, seek clarification. If multiple practice tests indicate the same area of weakness, get help in that particular subject.
Support may be provided by instructors, University tutoring centres, Libraries, Writing centres, University classmates and independent tutors of a good reputation. Before paying for services, check the standards and procedures of the services, as well as the process by which they communicate with the client and communicate with others about the client’s identity.
Above all, know the rules of your institution towards outside assistance. Support can enhance learning, but not go into academic-integrity violations.
Conclusion
If pupils do not see homework and examination work as a significant issue, the work will be more manageable. Break tasks down and look for specific errors, offer active revision and think about specific advice. Support should be clear, informative, but not responsible. With proper knowledge of what they require, they will be able to select the right support and continue working independently without getting too panicked in a hectic week.
References
BAW (2022). How Academic Help Providers Save the Students’ Future? https://bestassignmentwriter.co.uk/blog/how-academic-help-providers-save-the-students-future/
American Psychological Association (2020). Six Research-Tested Ways to Study Better. https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psychology-teacher-network/introductory-psychology/study-better
