Written by Mikayla Murphy
The most challenging part about studying is making a start on your first assessment task.
Finding the ‘big idea’ for your assessment can be a struggle and possibly the most challenging part of academia.
You may feel overwhelmed by all of the content you need to cover in your essay or trying to find some time in your busy schedule to sit down and start the assessment.
Don’t worry, you’re not the only student who feels this way!
Here are a few tips on how to tackle your first assessment for the session.
Tips for assessment success
- Find a time that works best for you
- Start planning early at the start of the session by looking at your assessment overview in your subject outline
- Brainstorm the topic
- Find your set textbooks for the subject
- Complete core and supplementary weekly subject readings found in your Leganto reading list on Interact 2
- Watch your lectures
- Analyse your assessment question
- Read your subject discussion board in Interact 2 for tips and questions from your lecturer and peers
- Create yourself a schedule for when you’ll research, edit, and finalise your task.
- Sign up to our Charles Sturt Library workshops
- Use the Charles Sturt Library website for researching scholarly materials
- Reference your work as you go using APA 7th edition. Tips for this can be found on the Charles Sturt Academic referencing tool website
- Proof read your document
- Visit the Assignments page for more tips, tricks and resources
Eliminate distractions
- Find a quiet place to study
- Make sure your study space is tidy
- Remove your phone from your study space
- Turn off notifications on your phone
- Wear noise cancelling headphones
- Set yourself some study goals
- Take a short ten-minute break after 30–45 minute study periods
