CILEx Law School

Quick tips for course and exam success

This article shares some simple yet effective tips that could quickly improve your study skills and revision techniques and, consequently, your exam performance.

About the author: This article was written by the CILEx Law School Teaching Team.

Part of the joy of distance learning is that you get to study from the comfort of home. However, this added element of comfort means that you don’t have the luxury of discussing study and revision tips with your classmates. Study and revision skills are not always easy to learn on your own, especially if it has been some time since you last studied or sat an exam, but help is at hand!

Preparation is key, so give yourself enough time to study

Starting to revise can feel overwhelming, especially if you are studying a complex practice subject or one you are finding challenging. Breaking down your topics and study exercises into smaller, manageable chunks (and into timed slots) can be a great psychological win and make things slightly more achievable. Small steps can still lead to giant leaps and are great for your mental wellbeing.

Creating a study schedule that fits your way of studying and your lifestyle will also ensure you do not leave anything to the last minute and give yourself enough time to act on any feedback you received from your tutors. At the start of your unit, it is sensible to note how many study exercises you have, the chapters you must learn, and the days you have left until your submission or exam dates.

Did you know that CILEx publishes all exam dates well in advance and provides a handy deadlines list so you know exactly what your target dates will be?

Once you have completed the deadlines list, you can organise your study habits and lifestyle accordingly. This will also help you get into the habit of doing a little studying - nightly or weekly - throughout the year. So, by the time you begin to revise, everything will (hopefully) feel more manageable, which should also allow you to practice with past papers and answer guides and then test what you really know.

And, finally, do take the time to check all those practical things, such as the rules and requirements for the exam, especially this September, where your exams are being sat online and could throw up connection and broadband issues.

Organise your study space: a cluttered workspace can lead to a cluttered mind!

For many of us right now, our study spaces may well be a dining room table or spare room. If you have the opportunity, make sure you have enough room to easily access your course manuals and notes, and that your study space is sufficiently bright and airy.

Be mindful of how comfortable your chair is, as a poorly positioned or padded chair can quickly cause fatigue and muscular pain, and be a distraction. Be mindful too about other details, for example, the TV and your smartphone etc, which can distract you, and remove them from your study space. Some learners need complete silence, while for others listening to music helps, so take some time to find the right balance for you.

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Get creative: use flow charts and diagrams

If you are a visual learner, visual aids can be especially helpful when revising from your manuals. A great tip shared at the CILEx Law School Inductions is, at the start of your revision, to write down everything you already know about a particular subject in the form of a spider diagram or thought shower, and then - using a different colour pen/pencil - work through your manual adding the information and key cases that you missed first time around.

When you come to revise, you only need to focus on the newly added, differently coloured text. Closer to the exam, transform your other revision notes in similar diagrams, so you have a set of visual remembrances that will aid you considerably when preparing for the exam.

Practise, practise, and practise (past papers)

This is perhaps the best way to get accustomed to the type of questions you’ll face in the CILEx exams, as well as the language and style of the questions. If you encounter the CILEx exam style for the first time on exam day, this might throw you off.

Previous exam papers are available on the CILEx website and will help you see the format and formulation of the questions. A top tip is to print or download previous past papers and cut and paste/ compare the question stems and answer guides for similar topics, so that you can see the overlapping content and key elements that are more regularly expected for each type of question.

And whilst you are there, read and digest the Chief Examiners’ Reports, which, again, can be found on CILEx’s website. Rather than try to guess what those marking your paper are looking for, it can pay dividends to do a little digging: believe it or not, the answer is out there.‘

Reward yourself with regular breaks

Whilst it is laudable to study for long hours, taking regular breaks after periods of study and revision are essential for the brain to regain its focus and help with long-term retention of knowledge. The key to study success is to develop a routine that fits your study style, and sees breaks as something to look forward to rather than avoided.

Be the tutor by explaining your answers to others

Explaining complex information to those who may have little or no experience of a topic or concept is a great way to help break down information and turn it into a language and structure that someone else can understand. After all, good practitioners do this every day with their clients. With the help of your family and friends, you could become the legal expert, and explain to them your reasoning for why you have answered a certain question in a certain way.

Snacking on healthy food is good for the brain and the soul

Our bodies and brains are finely tuned machines. And just like any machine, they require energy, fuel and maintenance to remain in peak condition.

As a result, it is always sensible to try to eat healthy food and drink plenty of water while you are studying. Not only is this good for you anyway, but then a balanced diet will improve your powers of concentration, memory and recall.

So, there you have it: 7 top tips to help you make the most of your study time and build conÿdence along the way

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘work smarter, not harder’. Here is a practical series of examples which, in essence, simply mean using the resources you have available, as well as managing your life, to make the most of your studying experience.

Passing your CILEx exams can be your first step towards a rewarding legal career, so by taking time to develop your study skills and succeed in your exams, you’ll also be establishing a set of skills that are vital for the industry you are heading towards. Good luck!