How do you deal with exam stress?

I deal with it by engaging in physically exerting but mentally relaxing activities, such as walking and running. Luca Zerafa, 23, MA English

Prior to exams I deal with stress by taking breaks during studying, and after exams I just try not to think about them. Luke Cauchi, 21, Higher National Diploma in Software Development, Mcast

During this very stressful period, I try to be more organised in order to be more focused on my studies. Also, I find that both music and drama help me relieve stress during exams. Paula Mintoff, 22, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Do you prefer exam-based or assignment-based assessments?

When I just had exams to deal with, I used to wish for assignments, and now that I just have assignments, I miss my exams. Both are challenging in their own ways – while assignments depend on a lot of research, exams depend on performance. In the end, I’d rather hace an onslaught of assignments than exams. Luca Zerafa

Assignments, as they allow me to work in my own time and not only meet my criteria but also explore any possibilities to innovate and improve my work. Luke Cauchi

Definitely assignment-based. I feel that through this type of assessment I can perform better, under less pressure. Paula Mintoff

Is your exam performance representative of your efforts all year round?

It is hard to generalise but exams are less representative than assignments. Luca Zerafa

No, passing from an exam only means you are capable of answering a specific set of questions presented to you in a limited amount of time and doesn’t reflect the full capacity of your knowledge and experience. Luke Cauchi

Not really, unfortunately. I personally feel that in an exam one cannot demonstrate all the work accomplished and knowledge acquired throughout the year, given the fact that so many things can hinder one’s performance during the actual exam. Paula Mintoff