---
title: Exams
date: May 2025
---
```
Written by      Mohit Agarwal           Class of 2025
```

Exams are easily one of the most daunting endeavours a student faces
at St Andrews. Yet, with some straightforward preparation, they are
not as difficult as they might first seem. Exams can be categorized by
two metrics:

* In-person _v._ take-home exams
* Technical answers _v._ written answers

## In-person exams

In-person exams require you to _memorize_ information, so that you can
recall it in the exam and answer on the basis of this knowledge. You
might be required to memorize course content (e.g., theorems,
processes, or different case studies) or be required be familiar with
a reading list, which questions might be asked about.

Start preparing well in advance; work begins the first lecture: 

1. Take good notes. Revision should not be a process of watching
   lectures and making notes on them, you should already be well
   versed with the content of the class --- this means paying
   attention.
2. Use practice papers. If you can answer questions from past papers
   well, then this will put you in a good place for your actual
   exam.[^past-papers]

## Take home exams

## Technical answers (Maths, Physics, etc.)

## Written answers (Philosophy, Art History, etc.)

[^past-papers]: I have met many people who did not know how to find
past papers for their subject. For _most_ subjects, login to
MySaint, and open the 'My courses' tab. Then, scroll down to 'Past exam
papers' and enter your module code. This is not the case for all
subjects. Maths, in particular, uses a different system.