GOWER COLLEGE SWANSEA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT STUDENTS DURING EXAMS AND ASSESSMENTS

Gower College Swansea has launched the Just BREATHE campaign to help students reduce stress and manage any anxiety they may have during the upcoming exam and assessment period. Exam and assessment pressure can cause increased anxiety and stress amongst students, so Gower College Swansea is offering tips and strategies to help with revision, with ‘Just BREATHE’. A survey carried out by charity Youngminds found that 80% of young people in the UK said that the pandemic had also made their mental health worse, with exam and assessment stress being a significant factor.

We caught up with Student Union President, Fatima Lopes, who has undertaken the role following her studies at Gower College Swansea, before she heads to university this September, for some first-hand tips and advice.

What is the Just BREATHE campaign?

Just BREATHE is an easy-to-remember initiative launched by Gower College Swansea to remind students to take on their exams and assessments one step at a time. B - Big breath - jump in!

R - Read your notes

E - Explore the topics in more detail - find a fun fact to help you remember!

A - Ask yourself mock questions,

what have you learnt so far? T - Take a break - step away from

your revision space

H - Highlights - run through the

highlights of what you know E - Evaluate - look back at what

you may have missed

What are your top tips for exam and assessment season?

First things first, in the weeks leading up to your exams and assessments, set yourself a revision plan, making sure your revision is spaced out. Use revision tools such as revision cards, phone apps, memory maps and record yourself reading your notes, and summarise your notes to make it easier to remember.

When it comes to near the day itself, don’t forget to take plenty of breaks, stay hydrated and make sure you’re eating properly. Especially before an exam or assessment, have a nice breakfast.

How can students reduce stress and manage anxiety during this period?

In addition to remembering the steps of Just BREATHE, make sure you go outside as much as possible, or team up with your friends to make this time more enjoyable. Another key way to reduce stress and anxiety when revising is to give yourself a separate space to work and relax if possible, so don’t revise in your bedroom, or your bed, at least. Save a space for you to relax away from worrying!

What support is offered by Gower College Swansea throughout the year and during exam and assessment time?

There are lots of members of staff who are trained to offer support, including your librarians. They can help you find articles, books related to your topics, and help you write test questions. You can even book their help through Instagram or the College’s website. We also encourage our students to connect with our student support officers if you’re feeling stressed. As a learner experience team, we’re also looking to put on coffee mornings to get students to socialise and relax before hefty revision periods, and are always looking for feedback from students themselves to find out what they’d like us to offer.

Just remember, Gower College Swansea can support you from application stage right through to sitting your exams and assessments, with dedicated teams of staff ready to help you guarantee the future you want. Interested in studying at Gower College Swansea? Find out more about the full list of courses available here. https://www.gcs.ac.uk/