How a First-Class Covenant University Student Locks In 3 Weeks Before Exams

Hi, my name is Uche Ebubechukwu Uchenna, a student of Covenant University, and I want to talk about something I know a lot of students can relate to: how to lock in when you have just one month left before exams.

Honestly, in my own case, I don’t even have up to a full month. It’s more like three weeks. And if you’re in this kind of situation too, where the exam is close and reality is starting to hit you, I want to share what has been helping me.

Not just motivational talk, but real campus life advice that works.

Accept That Time Is Almost Gone

The first thing you need is realization.

That moment where it finally sinks in that time is no longer on your side and you actually need to sit up. It’s painful, but it’s also necessary. Because once you accept it, you stop wasting time and you start taking action.

Plan Smart, Don’t Just Read Randomly

When time is short, you can’t just read anyhow. You need structure.

What I do is write down all my courses and arrange them based on:

• how important the course is
• how difficult the course is

Then I plan like this:

• on days I have more time, I focus on the difficult courses
• on busy days with less time, I focus on lighter courses like general studies

This helps me because my plan becomes realistic. No unnecessary pressure.

Set Specific Reading Goals

One thing that really helps is setting specific goals.

So instead of writing:

"Read IR211"

I write something like:

• Read what International Relations is
• Read the features
• Read about actors in the international system
• Understand examples and explanations

Sometimes I even list out the exact topics so I’m sure I’m not leaving anything out. This makes me feel more organized and more confident.

Use Small Free Time Properly

This part is so important.

If I go to class and the lecturer is not around yet, and I have 5 to 15 minutes, I don’t waste it. I use that time to read.

Even if it’s just a short period, it adds up. Those small reading moments can save you when exams are close.

Read to Understand, Not to Cram

If you’re not reading to understand, there’s honestly no point reading because it will still fly out.

I personally don’t believe in cramming. What I do is:

• read to understand
• pick key points
• digest it properly

Because there’s no way you can remember everything you read in 10 or 15 minutes. So focus on the key points and understand them so well that you can explain it in very simple words.

For example, if I’m reading about International Relations, I should be able to remember that it has to do with the international system and the actors in that system. From that understanding, I can expand in the exam hall.

Understanding makes it easier to remember and easier to explain.

Remove Fear, Fear Can Spoil Everything

When you have little time left, fear will try to enter.

You start thinking:

• what if I fail?
• what if I don’t have enough time?
• what if I blank out?

But you have to remove fear because fear can destroy everything.

Also, understand this: exams are not do or die. Exams are simply to assess how much you understand what you’ve been taught, how much you listened in class, and how much you read.

So in the exam hall, don’t go there thinking you must die there. Go there with confidence that you understand what you read, and that no matter how the question is set, you can write something.

Always Put Something Down

This is one advice I always tell people.

When you get to the exam hall and see a question that confuses you, don’t leave it blank because you’re not sure.

Write what you think is right.

Because if you write something, you can get a mark or more. But if you leave it blank, it’s automatic zero.

Never leave your paper blank.

Prayer and Faith Help Me Stay Calm

Another thing that helps me is prayer.

I pray to God for understanding and strength. There was a time I had serious fear during exams and I kept thinking I would fail.

But I listened to this song every exam day and the lyrics said something like: "I can never fail, the Most High is within me."

I kept declaring it.

When you know your identity in Christ, you’re at peace. The Holy Ghost is within you. You can’t carry God and fail. So yes, prayer and confidence in God really help.

Execute the Plan

Planning is good, but you must execute.

Read every day and be consistent.

Personally, I don’t really take breaks because I know myself. But everyone is different. Know what works for you.

The most important thing is that you stick to your plan and you keep reading consistently.

Be Curious, It Makes Reading Easier

One mindset that helps me lock in is curiosity.

Instead of reading like it’s boring theory, I ask myself:

• how does this apply in real life?
• why does this happen this way?
• how is this relevant?

Especially in International Relations, it becomes interesting when you connect it to real life events. Like why countries behave the way they behave and why the international system works the way it works.

When you start thinking practically instead of only theoretically, you become more interested, and that interest helps you understand faster.

Read for Exams, Not Only for Tests

One last thing I want to add.

If you have a test next week and exams in two weeks, don’t focus only on the test like most people do.

Read in anticipation of exams.

Read like you’re reading for your exam even when test is close, because when you do that, you gain deeper understanding. And by the time it’s exam period, you’ve already read the material multiple times.

So when you enter the exam hall, you won’t be seeing it for the first time. You’ll be confident because you’ve seen it before.

Final Words

This is how I lock in and this is how I’m currently locking in too, because I have little time left before exams.

If you’re in this same situation, it’s not too late.

Realize the urgency, plan smart, remove fear, read to understand, and execute.

Thank you for reading, and thank you to Campus Bestie for giving me this opportunity.

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