Top 3 tips for smashing assignments:

1.

Hannah's tip 3 seconded - definitely reach out for help if you need it. Just because uni is more independent than A Levels, this does not mean you're expected to do it all yourself. Use your lecturers and your personal tutor if you need advice or help, and be vocal if you are struggling.

2.

Keep a calendar, and colour-code in revision sessions or work sessions for your different modules. This used to help me make sure I was on track with everything so things didn't get left to the last minute.

3.

Include the essential reading, then go one step further! Perhaps browse for more recent articles on Google Scholar, find articles which apply the things you learn about to new fields, scout out some good counter-arguments. This shows that you not only know your subject but understand it and the different ways others understand it.

1.

Plan and Manage Your Time: Create a detailed plan for your assignment with specific milestones. Allocate enough time for research, drafting, revising, and proofreading. Avoid last-minute rushes by setting mini-deadlines for each part of the assignment. Tools like calendars, to-do lists, or project management apps can help keep you on track.

2.

Office Hours: Attend office hours with your lecturers, encourage them to read plans and run your ideas past them! They are the ones marking your work, so it is best to know their thoughts/briefing before you submit!

3.

Ask questions: make sure you are asking questions in your lectures and or seminars if you are struggling, lots of students I know struggle in silence!

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Plan in advance - It is critical to start thinking about your assignments well before the deadline. I would recommend to start your assignments as early as possible. Personally, I found it useful to plan my assignments as soon as the professor announces the topic and work on it for a few hours every week. This helps avoid last minute stress and anxiety. Consider breaking your work into mini tasks and setting regular deadlines.

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Use library resources - At Southampton, library is much more than just books! We have access to a range of online journals, articles, books, and databases that can help you take your assignment to the next level. The library resources really helped me find useful references and quotes when I was struggling to find some. I've also found many amazing articles that were game-changers for my essays.

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Proofread, proofread and proofread! - Trust me, you can avoid so many silly mistakes and spelling errors by proofreading. I usually proofread my coursework at least twice before I submit it, and I always end up making edits along the way. Try to finish your assignment in advance so that you have enough time to proofread and edit.