PREPARING FOR
EXAMS
Exams are the absolute bane to every university student, especially in first year when you are still trying to get settled in. But don’t worry! Here, we provide you with tips on how to ace the exams, materials to bring, and what to expect.
Once you get into the weekly swing of university, there are two major exams and assessment blocks in the term: 1) Mid-Term Exams: typically occurring in Week 5 - 7 depending on your course. If your exam is a little later, you may have Flexibility Week (Week 6) to revise. If not, use Week 6 to take a well deserved break! 2) Final Exams: The final exam period begins soon after Week 10 and can be found in the UNSW academic calendar. Not every course has a final exam, but in those that do, they usually have the highest weighting. A few courses have a ‘double pass’ system, where to pass the course, you must achieve over 50% in both the final exam and the overall course mark. Your course staff will let you know if this is required.
WAM EXPLAINED Standing for Weighted Average Mark, your WAM is a running average of all your university marks in courses taken at UNSW. Yes, you can improve your WAM over time. And no, marks from student exchange programs or other transfers are not included in the calculation. Although some companies take your WAM into account, please note your WAM does not dictate your personal worth. Life skills, communication, teamwork and enthusiasm are just as important to employers. One of the best ways you can show this is by being actively involved in society life.
