Five study lessons I learned from my first assessment period at King's

Hi everyone, my name is Ariadna and I am a MSc Neuroscience student. As a postgraduate student now close to finishing, I thought I'd share some things I would have like to know before my first assessment period.

I know the first assessment period is unlikely to be smooth and easy (at least mine wasn’t). However, somewhere between the stress, the notes, the questions, and the small wins, I realised that something had shifted. I was just learning how to handle it.

As an international student coming from a completely different educational system, I felt one step behind everyone else. I wanted to understand everything such as formats, expectations, and “how people revise here”. But the more I searched, the more confused I became.

So, here’s what I wish I had known. Not perfect advice, just real lessons from someone who has been through it.

Your first assessment period is meant to feel uncomfortable

I thought discomfort meant I was doing something wrong, but it just means you’re learning how to handle it.

Exams, essays, and deadlines are training you to deal with pressure, uncertainty, and time constraints. You'll pick up life skills which can be applied to job interviews, presentations, and all kinds of decisions under stress. The reward is so much more than just a high grade. 

Pay attention when assessments are mentioned

I underestimated how valuable small comments in lectures could be. A lecturer casually explaining an essay structure or offering assessment hints can be so valuable.

Be that person who listens carefully and asks questions. First-hand information is clearer, faster, and often more accurate than anything you’ll find online or asking around.

I started writing down these comments and ended up sharing it with the whole course.

Notes are your safety net

I became slightly obsessed with writing things down, and it saved me. For me, writing down with a pen also helped to fix the concepts in my memory.

Dates, deadlines, formats, feedback comments, random clarifications…everything. You can write it on your phone, laptop, or a messy notebook. The main thing is that when panic hits, you have something solid to go back to.

Start earlier than you think you need to

I know, some people thrive under pressure. But if this is your first assessment period, give yourself time.

Starting early isn’t about studying more; it’s about studying calmer. It gives you space to not only understand, but to get stuck, ask questions, and improve. I didn’t fully realise this until I compared my stress levels at the beginning and the end.

As soon as I started to prepare my exams in advance, I could feel more relief when the date came. It helped my confidence facing the exam thinking “Okay, I’ve been preparing this for a long time”.

Create a system that works for you

I love aesthetic planners and colour-coded calendars. But beyond the visuals, what helped was having a clear plan.

I created a simple study calendar which included topics per day, realistic goals, and space for breaks. This was just something I could follow and refer back to easily. The platform I personally use for this is Notion, but Google Calendar is also great.

And when motivation started to fade, my environment mattered more than will power. Studying around people, libraries, study spaces, even cafés, kept me focused in a way I couldn’t replicate alone. On that note, here are some of my favourite study spots depending on your mood.

Also, ask for help. You can email your lecturer or talk to a teaching assistant because one expects you to figure everything out alone.

If I could summarise everything in one sentence: you don’t need to feel ready to begin, you just need to do it. I hope my advice serves you and give you some peace to thrive during this period. You’ve got this!