How I Learned to Stop Panicking and Start Writing: My Exam Survival Guide

Exams are wild. No matter how many notes you’ve got, how many cases you’ve highlighted, or how much coffee you’ve consumed, there’s always that moment when you stare at the question and think what even is this? 

But here’s what I’ve learned after too many late nights and a few near-breakdowns: law exams aren’t about showing how much you’ve memorised. They’re about how you think under pressure. The examiner doesn’t care if you know every ratio from Codelfa to Waltons Stores. They care if you can apply the law to messy, convoluted facts designed to throw you off (thanks Prasan & Gerad) and state human facts as well as staying structured doing it. 

1. Prep Smarter, Not Longer 

Stop pretending you’ll reread every lecture slide. You won’t. (I know I wont) 

What actually works? Condense everything into one-page sheets per topic. Headings like Formation, Terms, Breach, Remedies. Bullet the rule, the key case, and the takeaway line. You don’t need full quotes just enough to sound like you know your stuff when it counts. 

And seriously, don’t overdo it the night before. The best prep is calm confidence, not another 2 a.m. caffeine meltdown. (Trust me) 

2. Reading Time = Strategy Time 

Don’t read the question like a story. You’re not there for the drama. You’re there for the legal triggers — the facts that scream “Issue!” 

Highlight or mark them fast. Ask yourself: What’s the examiner testing? Contract formation? Criminal intent? Causation? 

Once you’ve spotted the issues, jot a skeleton: FIRAC = Facts, Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. It’s boring but bulletproof. 

3. Structure Is Everything 

You could know every section of the Crimes Act or the Corporations Act, but if your answer looks like a stream of consciousness, you’re done. 

Keep it clean: 

● “The issue is whether…” 

● “Under s X of the Act…” 

● “In Codelfa, Mason J held…” 

Then hammer the application. This is where marks live. Every time you link a fact to a rule, you’re getting paid in marks.

Finish each section with a quick line like, “Therefore, under principle so and so is liable.” It wraps the thought and keeps your marker breathing easy. 

4. Don’t Write Like a Robot 

You’re a human being, not a case law generator. 

Use active, confident language. Avoid filler. 

Say “It follows that the defendant breached their duty,” not “It could perhaps be inferred that maybe…” You’ll sound sharper, and trust me, the marker will notice.

5. Manage Your Time Like It’s a Client 

If it’s a 2-hour exam with 3 questions, you’re getting 40 minutes each max. 

Ten minutes planning, thirty minutes writing. When that time’s up, move on. 

Finishing every question decently will always beat nailing one and leaving two blank. And yes, proofread. Those last five minutes can save you from a stupid mistake that costs easy marks. 

6. Keep Your Head Straight 

When your brain starts melting mid-exam, remind yourself: everyone else’s brain is melting too. Law exams are designed to test your composure. Think like a lawyer, not a student, identify, apply, conclude. That’s it. 

You’re not being marked on panic. You’re being marked on control. 

Final Thought 

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be structured, relevant, and composed. That’s how you turn chaos into marks. So take a breath, trust your prep, and write like you’ve been doing this your whole degree. Because, honestly, you have. 

As we head into exam season, I just want to take a moment to wish all my fellow law students the very best. Whether you’re deep in the library, running on caffeine, or questioning every life decision that led you here, you’ve got this. 

Remember, law exams aren’t about perfection. They’re about structure, clarity, and calm under pressure. Trust your preparation, back your reasoning, and keep your composure, that’s what gets you across the line. If things feel overwhelming, take a step back. Breathe, reset, and remind yourself how far you’ve already come. Every statute, case, and sleepless night has built the discipline you’ll need to push through this last stretch.

Good luck to everyone sitting their finals, I’ll be right there with you in the trenches. Let’s finish the year strong! 

Jesse Panovski 

Director of Education (2025) 

Notre Dame Sydney Law Society