Lethbridge postsecondary schools hoping to help ease student exam stress

Students at the U of L and Lethbridge Polytechnic are busy with their final exam prep, and support services at both schools are seeing a rise in demand.

LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. — The pressure is on for Lethbridge postsecondary students with final exams on the horizon.

Many are feeling the stress as they prepare for exams and final projects.

“A lot of our students right now are fully in full exam preparation mode, and everybody is trying to ramp up in terms of how they collect their notes in order to get to go into their exams and study,” said University of Lethbridge Students Union president Maleeka Thomas.

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But it isn’t just students who are feeling the pressure.

Faculty and staff are seeing more students reaching out for support, including academic help as well as mental health supports through wellness services.

“We’re accustomed to the stress that comes with this time of year, so we prepare for it. But for sure, it is a challenging time for us, for our faculty who are busy preparing exams, offering exams, marking, and getting ready to submit grades,” said U of L vice provost of students Kathleen Massey.

One thing that tends to be pushed to the back burner during long hours of studying is eating properly.

The U of L and the students union are partnering to help bring food to students.

Volunteers will go through study halls and be stationed outside exam areas to give students a nutritious snack.

“We also have some stations set up in the library where students are studying. So, these students are up studying to hours like 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. We do have snacks that are provided for them. So, I think that’s one of the biggest things that we’ve heard from students,” Thomas said.

While the schools will do what they can to help, it’ll be up to the students to do the work to pass their exams. But they’re offering tips and tricks to give students the best chance to get good grades.

“Our tips for exams are that you need to study, and you have to start studying in advance. Cramming right before is never going to work. If you get it started earlier, you can give it every other day, every couple of days. Review that information over and over and over again so that you’re totally prepared when it’s time to write your exam,” said Lethbridge Polytechnic academic strategist Jayne Werry.

The U of L’s exam period is underway and runs until April 16.

Lethbridge Polytechnic has its exams from April 22 to 28.