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29 October 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa
Exam read more
Once you have done all your exam preparation, it is imperative to make sure that you curb your stress levels as much as possible on the day that you have to write. The calmer you are, the better the outcome!

Final exam season has arrived at the University of the Free State (UFS), and we would like to share a few quick and easy tips you can follow to ensure that you make it through successfully!
Here’s how you can beat exams: 

Step 1: Make sure that you prepare well beforehand to give yourself enough time to study. Prepare a study schedule that fits your way of studying, and do not leave anything for the last minute. It is probably easier to thrive on last-minute studying, but often this way of partial study is not the best approach for exam prep. Prioritise your studying based on how many exams you have, how many pages you have to learn, and the days you have left to study. 

Step 2: Study and practise your work using previous exam papers. This will help you see and understand the format and formulation of possible questions, and can aid you in knowing what to expect, and help you practise and estimate how much time you should spend on answering each question.

Step 3: Eat healthy and use your study/friend groups as a stimulant. Make sure to stock up and energise yourself with a lot of water and nutritional study snacks to extend your concentration and commitment to studying. Avoid overeating and consuming rich, fatty foods that will make you feel tired and sleepy. Likewise, studying in groups can also help you get the answers you need and finish tasks faster. You may have questions that your friends have the answers to, as long as you effectively plan how much time you spend deliberating on a question.

Last but not least, make sure that you give yourself regulated study breaks between various chapters or topics, and let your brain take it all in!

Please find the official end-of-year exam timetable here.

News Archive

Kovsie bounces back from heart surgery and raises the bar
2017-07-10

Description: Kovsie bounces back from heart surgery and raises the bar Tags: Gymnastics, Charissa Worthmann, University of the Free State, Biokinetics, Department of Zoology and Entomology 

Charissa Worthmann, a gymnast and postgraduate Biokinetics
student at the UFS, overcame heart surgery earlier this year
and excelled at her sport. Photo: Supplied



“Life is too short to abandon what sets you on fire. Find your passion, work hard at it and be great. You will never look back and wish otherwise.” These are the words that postgraduate student Charissa Worthmann lives by, and which have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a gymnast.

Humble beginnings
After undergoing heart surgery earlier this year, Charissa bounced back stronger than ever. She went on to win five regional gold medals at the Free State Gymnastics Championships in February 2017 and was also crowned Free State Victrix Ludorum. In October 2016 she won a gold medal for her apparatus routine at the South African GymnasticsChampionships.

Charissa, who is currently doing her honours in Biokinetics at the University of the Free State (UFS), said coming from a small town was not always an advantage. “I come from a small town in KwaZulu-Natal where there are not many opportunities. Therefore there was no gymnastics. I found my natural talent, but never had the opportunity to develop it before coming to the UFS.”

Inspired by lecturer
Charissa’s inspiration is Prof Liesl van As, Associate Professor from the Department of Zoology and Entomology. She is also completing her undergraduate Zoology modules to later complete her postgraduate studies in Zoology. “As a student, our lecturers don’t often realise it, but they shape us to aim higher in life.”

According to Charissa, Prof van As is a woman of pure brilliance who has aspects that every woman should aspire to: Beauty, intelligence and a drive to succeed. “I owe a vast majority of my success to her, because even though she may not realise it, her motivational attitude and success in life drove me to succeed in areas of my life.”

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