Help/advice..either appreciated

Do you have past papers? They're poss the most useful things for exam preparation.

Talk to your personal tutor asap.

I'm trying to getva hold of some but they are very hard to find.
Thank u for ur time

I feel ridiculous when I say this to someone. I thought talking to strangers might be easier.
Thanku for ur response

You've given us a certain amount of evidence that your fears are indeed 'ridiculous', insofar as a very common feeling can be called that, but it is clearly bothering you and might become a self-fulfilling prophecy if the anxiety takes over.

Tutors will be well used to students who are worried they are going to fail - they are the ones with the information to be able to tell you (ever so gently I hope!) that you are indeed being 'ridiculous' ...but if there are some legitimately 'bogey' topics they should be able to help you with those too.

I very much doubt the younger students are all as confident as they seem and some of those who are confident may not be well-founded in that confidence!

That makes sense. Thank u. I'll book an appointment with my tutor and take it from there. Thank u again for your timely response

Hiya @Stressed#101,

I agree that talking to your tutor is the way to go. They have faced the wild and ridiculous from many of their students through the years. If anything, I'm sure they would be happy to have you reach out now, rather than the panic that comes their way in the 48 hours before an exam!

Your lecturers want to see you succeed and it sounds like you're on the right track as you have passed all your assignments so far. It sometimes helps just to have someone listen to your worries and hopefully your tutor can ease your mind a little.

Best of luck for your exams from a fellow mature student!

Essex Student Rep - Hayley

Thank u for ur response. I suppose talking things through can help get things into perspective

It certainly does

We can sometimes feel stuck between 'peer groups' being older than some of the student cohort. I do find I can talk to lecturers as some of them are at a similar stage in life and I can relate to them a little more than my wonderful 20 year old friends. Everyone is different though and I'm sure there are a lot of students on your course that are more worried about the upcoming exams than they appear.

It's a positive sign that you are worried, because you are determined to do well. The stakes feel higher as you have a lot of responsibilities but try not to let the anxiety or imposter syndrome get you down. You are doing better than you think you are I'm sure!

Best wishes
Essex Student Rep - Hayley

YES EXACTLY 💯. I felt very much out of place in my first year and then when I passed and made it to 2nd year I thought I'd earnt my place here. I really boosted my confidence but now as the exams come looming I find myself out of place again.
But thank u for your reassuring words. Truly appreciated

When you look back over the last year you will have invested so much time and effort to succeed, particularly where you are juggling children, family and study time. When you see all the carefree younger element breezing through? - believe me they are not all doing so well as the superficial exterior would seem. Many are happy just to socialise and have no other cares in their life.

Sometimes the reality of just how much you have sacrificed, the reminders of just how much time and serious hard work you have given - up are now starting to loom large. You are understandably having a minor 'confidence crisis'

So the best advice I have is 'talk' yourself through in positive terms and say you are going to see this through. That you can 'do this' - The prep work (as in previous posts) is really crucial, tutors, past papers, best revision notes, songs, colours, pictures etc. Do everything you can to set yourself up good and ready. Cover all revision bases at a generalised core level then crank up the revision into the specialised subject areas you gamble will be on the paper. Believe in the power of your mind. You have a wealth of knowledge sitting in your head. Read the exam questions really carefully (don't miss any questions on backs of papers) Ask what each question requires in its answer (and specific key words for the knowledge) Do your best and trust in karma for everything else. If it is meant to be it will be. It sounds very much like it is. In your head aim for a distinction pass and work and revise like you need that grade. Then even if you 'just pass' - at the end of the day that is all that matters. Anything above that is amazing. Have a fail safe in your head that if it really all does go wrong you can do a resit or a reconfigure. Nothing in life is so dire that it means life does not go forward with you in it. Sometimes some of the best and most life changing experiences happen after failure. It is how you get up again and climb back on that really matters.

You have so much to be proud of in life so far and I hope everything works out for you.

Hi, I am a mature student who has taken it upon herself to return to education to help support her herself and 3 children. I have reached my second year of pharmacy and now that the end of year exams are looming I'm scared of failing. I see all the younger students who seem to have a good understanding of what's going on. Im happy for them but wish I had the confidence to believe im going to pass.
I have managed to pass every assignment/test so far but im just worried about the final exam. Any advice or guidance would ve most appreciated, especially from any other mature students out there. When I say mature im talking mid 40s 😀

Hiya!

I’m sorry to hear you’re having these doubts in yourself but I totally understand that feeling.

I am also a mature student (mid 30s) and similarly have passed everything but have had a lot of doubts in myself throughout. A part of me feels that maybe that’s because we’ve been out of education for a long time previously. We potentially also have a lot of other responsibilities in our personal lives which just adds to the stress! I also think that sometimes that doubt and anxiety comes because we’re older and we just really want it.

I would suggest speaking to a lecturer you feel you can go too, even if that’s not your personal tutor. I often go to my practice educator at placement for a little confidence boost. Sometimes you just need to talk things through and reflect on how well you’ve done to pick you back up again.

You’ve come so far and have no reason to doubt yourself by the sounds of it. You were brave enough to make this big decision, that a lot of people would never do, especially when they’re already raising a family. You should be incredibly proud of yourself! You’ve passed everything so far and are so close to the end. What you have been doing is already working, don’t let the doubt let you give up. Keep studying and you will pass!

Sounds like similar to me, you have these doubts with most of your exams/assignments but you still pass! Try and remember that you’ve done well in the past. Don’t worry if others seem more confident and focus on continuing to put in the hard work to make it through that final exam!

I hope this helps a bit 🙂

Good luck! I hope you find your confidence and smash your final exams!

Sophie (ARU)