Breaking Down the UC Law Exam Schedule
The UC law exam schedule is an essential part of every law student’s academic calendar. The law exam schedule is unique, requiring students to take the majority of their exams in one condensed period. The final exam weeks are spread out through the year, with each semester featuring a distinct schedule. Typically, there will be 13 study days between the end of classes and the start of the first final exam. During this period, you’ll also have reading assignments to complete, along with class participation requirements and other legal studies obligations. Generally speaking, law exams follow closely after the last day of class. The first day of exams is often a Friday, with exams scheduled on weekends if necessary .
Exam schedules vary from semester to semester, and they can be difficult to keep track of throughout the semester. Exam schedules for both the fall and spring semesters are typically released around the start of November and at the start of April. Reading days are commonly scheduled for each semester, often at Thanksgiving and spring break, but it’s important to read the schedule provided by your university as this is subject to change.
Usually, students can find the schedule online, either via a confidential internal webpage or posted publicly online. Students should check the university or law school’s website for more information on the current exam schedule and what may affect it.
Important Dates for Your Calendar
As with all aspects of exam preparation, the earlier you can get the dates straight in your head, the better. At the UC, exam dates are set well in advance, though changes do occasionally occur. For years, exams have typically been held in the middle two weeks of August or early in September. The timetable below provides an overview of the exam calendar, covering the key stages in the registration and examination process for UC law students. Note that the timeframes below assume that you attend the UC in your first year in the Graduate School. If you are taking one of the non-UC options, you will not be subject to the UC regaining deadlines. In particular, this applies to Japanese students who sit the exam in May. It is essential that you keep all of these deadlines in mind when planning your exam preparation. While the dates may seem distant upon first glance, you will be surprised at how quickly they come around. If you are not fully aware of the key dates and the sequence in which they occur, you will find it all too easy to miss submission or registration deadlines. The end result is chaos and confusion, a state of mind to be avoided at all costs.
How to Study for Law Exams
Preparing for exams at UC is a huge task, but arguably half the battle lies in preparing not just during the semester, but preparing effectively.
Understanding the exam format
This means getting your head around the exam format early. You should know whether there will be multiple choice questions, short-answers, or long-answer essay responses. You also should know how many questions you will be required to answer and how long you will be permitted to spend on each question. Just to be on the safe side, you should also consider bringing along a birthday cake and a copy of the Qur’an, so that you can spend the rest of your days in some remote hut.
Past papers are your new best friend
You might be sick of hearing it, but past papers are important. I remember back in first year sitting at home furiously writing out model answers from past papers. It was one of the best things I did to prepare for the UC Law exams. Hot tip – if the exam is open book, even better. Just take a peek at the questions and check that you can find the answers.
The study plan
The study plan will be your bible leading up to exam time. It is not just a way to keep you on track with your notes, but also keep track of all those extra-curricular activities that you would now like to squeeze into the end of semester. Firstly, make sure you allocate your study days accordingly. For example, if you have a UC Intensive subject that ends a week before the exam and you haven’t written your study notes yet, bloody well get onto it and just ignore the rest of your subjects until you do. Secondly, although tough, let your friends and family know what your study schedule is. This will help you avoid distractions from the outside world and ensure you get enough study time in at home. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Thirdly, prioritise, prioritise, prioritise! You should always get the hardest subjects done first. If you find that you have run out of time, focus on the exam format and tackle the shorter questions first. Some people are inclined to skip over the multiple-choice sections or allow themselves less time on them, but this is NOT a good idea. Did you know you can actually gain as much as 15% for answering incorrectly in the multiple-choice sections of the exam? I cannot emphasise enough how much you need to do the MCQs.
The calm before the storm
The days before the law exam should not be spent cramming in a final few hours of persisting with those awful readings (yes, I am looking at you, Spencer). Nope, it is more about keeping your brain calm and ready for action on the big day. On the morning of the exam, make sure you have given yourself plenty of time to get to the exam venue and are well rested. Plan your day and keep an eye on the clock. You want to be leaving the venue at around 2.00pm after the exam happy and proud, not staring up at the clock praying it will stop or having a panic attack that you have forgotten where you parked the car. If you follow all of this, you’re on the path to excellence.
Dealing with Stress During Finals
Stress is an unavoidable part of every examination period, but there are steps you can take to manage its effects on your performance. Time management is a critical skill that can help to alleviate stress. Begin by mapping out your study plan, allocating time to each subject based on its complexity and your familiarity with the material. Make sure to include additional study sessions for subjects that are particularly challenging for you, and schedule some time in between so that you’re working at an optimal cognitive level.
Relaxation techniques are another great way to combat stress during this challenging period. Progressive muscle relaxation is a highly effective technique for reducing physical tension. To do this, you squeeze and release the muscles in various parts of your body, starting with your feet and working your way up to your face. An example of a progressive muscle relaxation exercise can be found here. Meditation and mindfulness exercises can help to manage the anxiety that often accompanies examinations, and may help to restore your concentration to a manageable level when you’re feeling stressed . One simple meditation exercise is to focus your attention on your breath for 3-5 minutes, trying to keep your mind focused on your inhalations and exhalations.
If you’re struggling to keep the stress at bay, reach out to your fellow students, family members or friends. You may be surprised at how much others understand exactly what you’re going through. It’s entirely normal to feel overwhelmed as the examinations approach, but with a little support you can focus on the task at hand, and be your best possible self when the day of the exam rolls around. In addition to your own network, the University counselling service may provide support if you feel comfortable reaching out to it. Maintaining your health is a crucial aspect of optimizing your performance at university, so be sure not to cut corners when it comes to self-care. While exams can be stressful, you should never compromise your well-being – after all, study-life balance is essential for optimal learning.
Support Resources
UC law students have access to a variety of resources during the exam period to help them successfully navigate the challenging landscape of law school final assessments. From study groups and tutorial sessions to dedicated academic advisors, these tools play a crucial role in alleviating exam-related pressures and improving performance outcomes. A particularly effective strategy employed by many students is the formation of structured study groups tailored to specific subject areas. These groups allow for collaborative learning, where peers can clarify complex legal concepts, quiz each other on key terms, and even conduct informal oral assessments to gauge individual readiness. Such environments also foster collaboration over competition and allow for students to compare notes, ensuring that everyone grasps the core principles necessary for exam success. The UC also establishes on-demand tutorial sessions both in-person and remotely, providing students with an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with hosts. These tutoring programs are designed to cater to a variety of study styles, offering explanations of intricate legal issues, assistance with law school papers, and detailed outlines for coursework. Moreover, the office also provides a series of workshop sessions aimed at helping students craft comprehensive outlines not only for exams but also for papers, facilitating a seamless transition between exam time and writing time in a manner that helps students maximize their study efforts from start to finish . The UC also offers regular "walk-in" hours where students can receive the advice of academic advisors on a wide range of exam-related topics. These walk-in hours cover everything from how best to approach a particular question to how examinees are graded. This information can be invaluable for students who may not have been able to fully grasp all of the material during the semester. Furthermore, these advisors can provide guidance on how to maintain focus and manage stress levels during the exam period, allowing students to perform to the best of their abilities. While these resources are available for all UC students, others are geared towards preparing students for finding release from the pressures of the exam period after their course load is completed. To this end, UC law students often attend and participate in "practical law" courses, such as the introductory "Intellectual Property" course, which helps the students put into play what they have learned during their studies in a space that is free from the stresses caused by their examinations. This sort of preparatory effort can contribute significantly to stress reduction ahead of wider examinations, making it much easier to manage time and keep exam-related pressures in check without causing students to study any less than they normally would during their lessons.