Galway Exams 101

Get Exam Ready

Podcast - Your First Year Exams Survival Guide 

AnnMarie Gilchrist, Student Advisor with the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences and the School of Law chats with host Barry Ó Siochrú, former Students' Union Vice President for Gaeilge 2022/23, and provides practical tips on sitting your first university exams. Listen here. Transcript available here. 

Podcast - Beyond the Books

Raimey O'Boyle, former Students' Union VP for Education 2023/24, chats with guest Regina Lyons from the Academic Skills team in the Library and shares tips on how to navigate the Library and advises on the fantastic resources available. Listen in now.  

Past Exam Papers

Past exam papers are a valuable resource for creating effective study plans. You can find them on this webpage. Search by module / subject code to get the correct papers. 

What Happens on the Day of the Exam?

Take a look a the Exams Office FAQ page to find our what you can expect on the day of the exam. 

Exams Office Info Session - Wednesday 2 April

Find out about exam timetables, late entry, exam regulations, sitting your exams and more.

• Join online - 12pm, Wednesday 2 April. Link coming soon!
• Join in-person at 4pm, Wednesday 2 April in Máirtín O'Tnuathail Theatre (AMB-1023), Arts Millennium Building.

Assignment and Exam Success

Study Skills - Podcast

Luke O' Donnell, Researcher with the School of Education chats with Barry Ó Siochrú, former Students' Union Vice President for Gaeilge 2022/23 and provides tips and insights on how to develop good study skills and habits. Listen here. Transcript available here.

Library workshops: Tuesday 18 March to Tuesday 25 March

Finding Articles and Books - Not sure where to find the right information to be successful with your assignment? Check out this quick library skills session, where you'll find out: 

•  the main features of the library catalogue
•  how to search for scholarly articles, books and ebooks
•  how to search for topics on the library catalogue and refine results
•  about different databases relevant to your subject area

Workshop Registration:
Library Training Room PC Suite: 11-12pm, Tuesday 18 March. Register now.
Online: 2-2.40pm, Thursday 20 March. Register now. 

Citing Them Right - By the end of this session, you will: 

• Understand the core principles of in-text citation
• Learn how to create accurate reference lists
• Become familiar with various referencing styles
• Learn how proper citation helps avoid plagiarism

Workshop Registration:
Online: 2-2.50pm,Tuesday 18 March. Register now. 
Library Training Room PC Suite: 10-10.50am, Wednesday 19 March. Register now. 
Online: 4-4.50pm, Monday 24 March. Register now. 
Library Training Room PC Suite: 2-2.50pm, Tuesday 25 March. Register now. 

An Introduction to EndNote for Citing and referencing. By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Create an EndNote library
• Export records from the library catalogue and key databases 
• Use Cite While You Write (CWYW) in Microsoft Word to create citations and a reference list

Workshop registration: 
Online: 10-11am, Thursday 20 March. Register now.
Online: 9-10am, Friday 21 March. Register now. 

Academic Skills Hub - Online Resources

The Academic Skills Hub is your go-to resource for essential academic skills. It offers quick tips and concise advice on some key academic skills, as well as helpful guides and planners to help you on your academic journey. Explore the resources at your own pace on this link. 

Additional Academic Resources

 Below are a selection of resources to help you with assignments and exams. 

• Stella Cottrell's Study Skills Handbook is a great resource and has a chapter specifically on revision and exam strategy. You can be find the book online here as well as in the library here 
• The Library Academic Skills Service is open Monday - Friday from 10-1pm
• The Library have created a suite of videos on mastering the library catalogue
• The Library Endnote guide
• Citing and Referencing
• Referencing and Citing with Endnote, by Gabriel Bourke
• How to Edit and Format MS Word document for Essays or Reports 
• SUMS - Support for undergraduate maths and statistics, it's FREE service providing informal mathematics support to first and second year students across all colleges and courses as well as to students engaged in Access/Foundation courses. 
• Computer Disc - is a free drop-in support centre for students who are taking any programming/software development courses. 

Assistive Technology Drop-In Clinics - 24 March - 10 April

Assistive Technology Officers will run the drop-in clinics for students that are registered with the Disability Support Service, to help prepare for semester two exams. These clinics will run every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 24 March to 10 April. There will be no clinics on Wednesday 2 April. 

Texthelp with a focus on Read&Write for exams
When: 10am, Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays 
Where: Assistive Technology Office, ground floor, James Hardiman Library

CPens with a focus on use during exams
When: 10.15am,Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays 
Where: Assistive Technology Office, ground floor, James Hardiman Library

Self-Directed Study Guides and Videos

FYI: First Year In: An essential open educational textbook created by the Academic Skills Team in the library to equip newcomers to the university library with critical skills for academic success. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the process of finding, using and managing reliable information sources. It emphasises the importance of evaluating sources and offers practical guidance on finding information for assignments, academic integrity and getting the most out of the library.

Mastering the Library Catalogue: Take a look at this video for a guide to accessing the library catalogue to help you find books, eBooks, journal articles as well as searching for research topics. 

Study Tips

We asked our students to share their top assignment and exam study tips. Check out the full list of study tips! 

Blog - How to Organise your Study Time Efficiently

Study smarter, not harder! Rose Mary Francis, a MSc. in Digital Marketing student, shares her go-to tips for maximising study time and ensuring you get those all important breaks. Read the blog on this link, 

Taking Care of Me

Breakfast Club - Monday 31 March to Friday 9 May

Early Bird? Commuting to campus? Or just in early? Drop in for FREE tea, coffee, cereal and toast and a chance to connect with other students before your day begins! You can also use the Hub kitchen to make and enjoy your own breakfast.

Chill, chat, and start your morning right! All students are welcome.

When: Weekdays, 8-9am Monday-Friday

Where: The Hub kitchen, Áras na Mac Léinn

Brew Breaks - Thursday 20 March

When: 12-2pm, Thursday 20 March 
Where: Student Enquiry Centre, Arts / Science Concourse

Pop into the SEC this week to fuel up on FREE hot chocolate or coffee. Our team are on hand if you have any questions about student life, chat with other students or just chill out on our cosy couch!

Plant Study Buddy Scheme

Plants have been proven to boost mood and increase calm. To help alleviate some exam stress the Library have introduced the "plant study buddy scheme". If you are studying in the Library, you can borrow a small plant to place on your desk to keep you company while you study. Pick up your plant from the library help desk and return it when you're finished. Plants will be available to borrow at the Library help desk, from Monday 24 March. 

Podcast - Wellzone Series

The Well Zone podcast series is brought to you by Student Counselling & Wellbeing and will explore proven strategies to support your mental, spirtual and emotional health during your university journey. There are four episodes in this series and each episode has a variety of exercises that you can complete in your own time. This series is delivered by members of the counselling and wellbeing team at University of Galway.  Listen now. View transcripts and exercises. 

Podcast - Take a breath with Ecotherapy

In this episode Fiona Roche, Student Counsellor in the University of Galway, chats with host Barry Ó Siochrú, former Students' Union Vice President for Gaeilge 2022/23 and explains how ecotherapy focuses on using nature and the outdoors to improve our wellbeing. Listen here. Transcript available here. 

Podcast -   Tarraing d'anáil le hÉiciteiripe 

Sa chlár seo míníonn Fiona Roche, Comhairleoir Mac Léinn, conas a úsáideann éiciteiripe an dúlra agus an saol amuigh faoin aer chun ár bhfolláine a fheabhsú. Anseo.

Podcast - Sleep Well, Study Well

Nóirín Mannion, Mental Health Support Worker in the University of Galway student health unit, chats with host Barry Ó Siochrú, former Students' Union Vice President for Gaeilge 2022/23 and reminds us that it is ok to allow time for self care, particularly during stressful times. Listen here. Transcript available here. 

Podcast Destress for Success

Jimmy McGovern, Support Worker with the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Centre, chats with host Barry Ó Siochrú, former Students' Union Vice President for Gaeilge 2022/23 and gives us some fantastic tips on managing and reducing stress in the run up to exams. Listen here. Transcript available here. 

Doing Exams

Regulations Do's and Don'ts - Podcast

Joe Mee, former Students' Union VP for Education 2022/23, gives some practical advise on what you should do ahead of sitting your exams, as well as what to expect on the day of the exam. Listen here. Transcript available here. 

Accommodations, Adapting for You - Podcast

Catherine Dufficy, Assistant Disability Support Officer provides information on how students registered with the Disability Support Service can avail of additional exam supports. Listen here. Transcript available here. 

Academic Supports

The Library Academic Skills Desk is open Monday - Friday from 10-1pm for drop ins, no need to book. Alternatively you can book a one to one appointment on this link. They can help you with finding databases, locating articles and books, evaluating information, citing and referencing, using Endnote and searching the literature for literature reviews.

Campus Shuttle Bus

The shuttle bus will run for the duration of exams. The last bus will leave from the Orbsen stop at 7.15pm in the evening. Download the Safe Zone app to track the bus. 

Study Spaces on Campus

Additional Study Spaces

Check out the list of available group and individual study spaces on campus.