This is undoubtedly what many law students are concerned about. The most efficient way of studying law varies from one to another: you may prefer studying alone while I may prefer studying in group; she may prefer hand-written notes while he may prefer typed notes. There is no definite way, but below is some advice for you to be SMART in preparing for exams:
- Start revising early
- Make your own notes
- Attempt past paper/tutorial questions
- Revise with friends
- Take rest
- Start revising early
You may have experiences of studying the night before and still excel in exams before, but in law school, this probably does not work. Given the significant amount of reading materials (some hundred pages, or even more), you will need more time to carefully review and fully understand them.
Examination timetables will usually be available after the reading week. You will be informed by email when they are available. You can get access to them through:
- HKU Examinations Office or
- HKU Portal > SIS > Self Service > Other Self Service > Examinations Timetable.
Copies of the examination timetables are also posted on Faculty noticeboards for students’ reference. It should however be noted that, under special circumstances, amendments to the examination timetables would occasionally be made after the first publication of the timetables. Students should therefore consult the online examination timetables on the web site of the Examinations Office regularly for any possible amendments to their examination timetables.
- Make your own notes
Making notes is a helpful way to gather and reorganise all the legal principles and case laws that you’ve read and learnt. The reading list assigned by the course convenor of each course should have laid out the materials, for example, textbooks and cases which you are required to read. Your teachers may also have highlighted in lectures or tutorials legal principles, key cases or academic debates. It is advisable that you revise these examinable materials before exams.
There is no single way of how to make study notes – it is all up to you! You may draw tree diagrams, use tables and bullet-points, or write long paragraphs. As long as your notes help you, especially if it is going be an open-book exam, they’ll be an excellent set of notes.
- Attempt past paper/tutorial questions
Exams do not just test your ability to recall the legal principles and case law, more often, you are required to demonstrate your ability to apply the law in solving the problem question, or to come up with a critical view of a certain area of law in your essay. Trying out past paper questions is a means for you to practise your skills of applying the law. Practice makes perfect!
Where to find past paper?
- Past paper for all the courses can be found in the HKU ExamBase or
- Go to HKU Library website > HKUL Digital Initiatives > ExamBase
If past paper is not available, e.g. because access to it has been “restricted” by your teacher, you may consider (re)attempting tutorial questions instead.
- Revise with friends
Many a little makes a mickle! There is always more than one way to analyse a legal issue, discussing it among your peers may help you check your knowledge and gain perspectives.
Sharing notes is also a means to expand knowledge base and learn from one another – needless to say, this is a matter of personal preference, no pressure at all.
- Take rest
It may be tempting to burn the midnight oil, but in order to have a clear mind, you need to get enough sleep the day before the exam.
After all, don’t get stressed out! Exams are no doubt very important – well, they determine GPA – but they never determine who you are.
Useful Links: Ideas on how to Survive Your Exams; Notice to Students sitting University Examinations