A very well done to all other SIAS members who also passed their exams – keep studying hard as there will be another chance to win in our SIAS Best Exam Mark competition following the April/May 2021 sitting! Don’t leave it to the last minute or choose not to apply as your results might just be the mark needed to support a charity of your choice.

How have you kept busy during the lockdown? 
I’ve been trying to catch-up on some of the computer games I’ve been losing track of over the past year as well as some more cooking and taking care of some house plants.

What’s your secret to studying for exams? 
Do assignments the weekend after the relevant tutorial to reinforce things learnt and starting revision as early as motivation allows.

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?
After a long day in front of my laptop, I like to catch up with friends and family, read books, go for a run, watch series. Most of the time however is spent trying to decide which of the series recommended by my friends and colleagues I should start watching.

What’s your secret to studying for exams?I try to be regular in my revisions so that assimilating new concepts is easier. Knowing when to take a break is also important. And past papers. Loads and loads of them.

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?
Hanging out with my guinea pigs and recording videos of myself playing the bassoon. One day I hope to combine the two. 

What’s your secret to studying for exams?
Make sure you are ready to sit the exam five months before it actually happens. (A technique discovered by accident due to the pandemic postponement.)

Depending on busyness I might do a workout at lunch, go for a walk, or just take a quick one in the hope that I can finish a bit earlier instead (which I never do). The afternoon is a bit of a lottery, it either flies by or drags on, but again, coffee helps...

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?

Well I started by going to the gym more often, but current events made sure that didn't last long. Instead I traded gains for games and I built myself a PC, which is a lot more fun but doesn't quite yield the same results. I guess both are equally boring topics of conversation at work though, so I'll stick with the default answer of "nothing much, you?".

What’s your secret to studying for exams? 
I tend to lock myself away for a few weeks before the exam, do some study before work and in the evenings. Not very exciting, but if you can time it right then you can take your exams in the middle of a pandemic so your friends don't think you're boring. Oh, and it helps if you have an amazing girlfriend who will cook for you while you're busy studying (shoutout).

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?

Work, become a YouTuber (老林投资 CL Investments - ENG subs), play video games and video call friends and family.

What’s your secret to studying for exams?
Make your own notes (make sure it's bulletproof for any core reading related questions) Develop critical thinking mindset (through past papers) as the questions are getting harder and more like SA. Prioritise studies and practise your  typing speed.

I made that decision very quickly in March 2020 when I realised staring at the corner my desk was previously in wasn’t going to work. The key thing I try to make sure of is that I’m getting outside for a walk or run at some point during the day. My commute used to be a nice walk through the Meadows in Edinburgh, so unlike a lot of people, I actually miss it!

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?
Well, apart from studying... in the first lockdown, I walked a lot, and found lots of new places to go to for fresh air and exercise. In lockdown whatever-number-we’re-on-now, alongside the walks, I’ve started playing Breath of the Wild on my Switch, having bought it ages ago – highly recommended!

What’s your secret to studying for exams?
I’m not sure it’s a secret, but for CP2, the key really is just doing as much practice as you can, and making sure you know what the examiners are looking for in each paper of the exam.

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?
I have taken up playing chess after watching the Queens Gambit and baking sourdough.

What’s your secret to studying for exams?
Planning answers to past papers rather than answering in full allows me to get through past papers much quicker.

How have you kept busy during lockdown?
The simple things - work (obviously), cooking, exercise. Not really much else going on as I’m sure you’ve noticed. 

What’s your secret to studying for exams?
Wouldn’t be very secret if I told you,  would it?

How have you kept busy during the lockdown?
Helping run a community group for trans people, building up a board game collection, playing chess very poorly, joining a book club (highly recommend The Midnight Library) 

What’s your secret to studying for exams?
Do whatever works for you + an intense workout the night before the exam to get the nervous energy out and help with a  good night's sleep.