How to prepare for online lectures and exams

Patric Evason came in sixth place in his FAE exams in 2020, only a few months after the pandemic started. Here, he suggests asking yourself two key questions before preparing for your lectures and exams – and explains what to do once you have the answers.

Many people view the online learning environment as something new and daunting. However, it is important to recognise that this is not quite true; in fact, we are simply replacing old tasks with new ones.

For students, the preparation process should remain consistent, albeit with a more digital focus. When approaching lecture preparation, it is important that you ask yourself two key questions:

Often, students focus too heavily on their peers and base their decisions on what others want rather than what they want and what suits them. This could influence your exam and lecture planning, but each student must embrace their individuality and understand that their technique will be different to others. For example, there are many exam techniques recommended by lecturers. I thought some were useful while I knew others would not suit me, even though my peers thought differently.

In preparing for the lecture or any type of exam, I always find that a checklist can be quite helpful. I draft a checklist based on what I need for the session. Then, an hour before it starts, I complete the checklist and ensure that I have all relevant materials ready to go. Whether this be the question, the slides, or the solution to a review lecture session, logging into lectures without the worry of being behind immediately due to being unprepared is imperative. Remember, you want to be in the correct mindset to learn as much as possible.

Further preparation may include reading up on topics before you encounter them in your lessons. This does not mean being able to recite everything from memory. It means taking an interest in what you are going to be studying. Lecture content can be heavy at the best of times, so I always try to read articles online to complement my learning. For example, when studying cryptocurrency as part of the Data Analytics module, I look up the cryptocurrency news on Google before the lectures and use sites such as Investopedia for a quick overview and definition of the topic.

Doing the simple things is often the most effective way to prepare for lectures. Too often, students believe that they need to thoroughly investigate all the topics in order to maximise the learning experience. This could not be further from the truth. This, and every exam, are marathons, not sprints. Knowledge is cumulative and time is valuable. Therefore, use your time wisely and in the most effective way possible that suits you. In doing so, you cannot ensure instant success, but you can guarantee that you will give yourself the best opportunity to pass, and excel in, your exam when the time comes. 

Patric Evason is an Associate Auditor in the Asset and Wealth Management division at PwC.