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In this post, I'll be diverging slightly from law-specific content to focus on what I imagine is a pretty relatable obstacle for everyone – the upcoming exam season. Whether you're completing your GCSEs, A levels or your university exams. For those of us who are still in education, this is undeniably the time to – as Troy Bolton from High School Musical puts it – “get your head in the game”.

I'll be sharing the exam revision and preparation skills I've learned during my time as both a high school and university student. I'm going to keep this list as vague and simple as possible so that no matter what stage you're at in your journey, this content can still be applicable to you.

1. Set (realistic) goals

Look back at your performance this year and the feedback you've received from teachers or professors. In my experience, it's best to understand what you're working towards – of course, setting ambitious goals is great, but when the work you've done doesn't reflect this, it's not a productive use of your energy. What grades can you realistically expect from yourself? And, if you're unhappy with that answer, what can you do between now and your exams to change that?

2. The past is your best friend

Past papers and essays are, without a doubt, your best friend. Make it a point to go through past work you've done and identify where you lost marks, as well as to make a note of any feedback you received from your teachers. Personally, I try to make a to-do list out of this information where possible; writing down all the actionable feedback and implementing it within a timeframe to make sure I can work on it before exams. You can also ask your teachers for specific advice (the key word here being ‘specific’) on how you can improve based on past submissions of yours that they’ve marked.

Of course, a crucial way to implement this feedback is by doing, you guessed it, past papers. If you can, try to get your teacher to mark them and if they can’t you can always ask a coursemate to peer mark your work. Completing past paper questions in the final few days before your exam is a great way to familiarise yourself with the exam format and time constraints.

Make the most of what you already know in the time leading up to your exams, you don't want to spend time relearning things you already know – or trying to learn entirely new content.

3. Work with (and against) your friends

When doing individual exams and essays, it may seem counterintuitive to ask your friends for help. But whether they're studying the same subjects as you or not, a second pair of eyes is always valuable. It's particularly useful to do this with friends who took the same modules as you and whose strengths and weaknesses may not align with yours, as this disjunction will prompt both of you to learn from each other.

If you're someone who works best in groups, organise a revision-based gathering with other friends who also work in the same way. These groups will enable you to share and exchange notes, or organise competitions and quizzes among yourselves. Sometimes, (I say this from experience) the best serotonin is the kind you get from winning against a friend!

4. Be prepared

Organise your time before your exam takes place. Once you have your exam dates and timings and know the rough structure of your paper, it’ll help to ration your time beforehand. You can then factor this in when considering how much time you want to spend planning, writing and editing your responses per section.  

5. To infinity... and beyond!

Most examiners’ reports I've read will note that students who get the top grades aren’t necessarily the ones who know a text or concept inside out, or those who can quote their textbook verbatim. Instead, they’re the ones who’ve gone above and beyond both during the year and during their pre-exam period – and have demonstrated this in their exams.

Think back to classes, essays and reports. What concepts and modules most interested you and why? Your university library database should be your best friend. What have other scholars said about a text or concept – what other theories exist and how can you build on them? Are there particular academics whose work you prefer? What are the advantages and disadvantages of their theories and concepts?

And, finally, best of luck in your exams! I won't tell you confidence is key because chances are, if you're planning to become a lawyer, this is something you already know. However, I will wish you good luck and hope that all the topics that you prepared for come up (and may you absorb all your last-minute revision via osmosis...).