Exam period time!

Exam time is here, but there’s no need to panic!  Here are a few simple tools to help manage your studying. First, use may wish to take a practice exam to get a sense as to how law school exams are different from  other tests you’ve ever taken in the past.  Some professors have chosen to make sample exams from past years available online.  You can find them through the Law Library website here or by choosing Exam File from the drop-down Quicklinks box on the top left of every Library web page.  You will need to enter your UMB ID and password for access to the file.  Exams are listed by the professor's name as well as by course name. 

If a practice exam is not available, there are various helpful articles out there, including:

• “What Makes a Good Law School Exam Answer? Law Profs Weigh In” (WSJ Law Blog)
• “Law School Exam-Taking Tips” (Concurring Opinions Blog) 
• “Beyond IRAC: Law School Exam Taking Tips” (Legal Profession Blog) 

Second, don’t compare yourself to other students.  Maybe you heard someone say that their Criminal Law outline has been finished since Thanksgiving, or that someone else has done every Contracts practice exam already.  Whether you’re the student who has had the material down for months, or the student now getting ready for a last-minute cram session, there are good ways to go about finals studying.   For instance, check out this blog, where the author suggests the best study tips based on kind of student you are.

Third, find a good place to study.  Group study rooms are available in the Law Library.  Study rooms may not be used for taking an exam; however, you make take your exam at a library carrel.  Please use the online Room Reservation System to book a study space.   A minimum of two names (first and last names) with umaryland e-mail addresses must be given for each reservation request.  

Other graduate centers are also in the midst of exams, so please check the individual library sites for updates on hours and study space availability.  The Health Sciences and Human Services Library will post changes here.  The Eisenhower Library and Brody Learning Commons at Johns Hopkins will be open to visitors from 8am – 4pm, December 8 through December 21.  At all other times, a valid Johns Hopkins University ID will be required for entrance.

Fourth, relax!  Stressing yourself out will only make studying and exam-taking more difficult.  Try some of these tips from Suffolk University Law School.

And finally, be prepared to actually take the exam.   All students who plan to take an electronic final exam must register and download the latest version of Exam4, the School of Law's electronic exam software, every testing period.  It is strongly recommended that you download the exam software no later than a week before your first exam. This will give you time to determine if you have a problem with your laptop or with the program that you need to resolve. Students who encounter difficulties using the Exam4 software during the exam period should expect to hand-write exams.  For more information, please consult the Office of Technology’s page on electronic exams.