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Forside / Ny på studiet / Eksamen / How to get the most out of exam guidance

The exam

How to get the most out of exam guidance

Writing a thesis is a milestone in your academic life. It is a project that requires time, energy, and commitment. But you are not alone – your exam supervisor is there to help you.

Table of contents

  • A final exam paper can be lonely
  • What can a supervisor help you with?
  • Utilise the supervisor’s capacity
  • How do you use your supervisor best?
  • Remember, it is your responsibility

A final exam paper can be lonely

When you have to write a project, exam paper, or perhaps even a thesis, you enter a period where you will most likely spend a lot of time alone with your thoughts about the project and the challenges that will most likely arise along the way. This is where your exam supervisor comes into the picture. For although there is a big difference in the scope of a project, the supervision process is largely the same.

More is expected of a final project because you have had more instruction, and therefore it is expected to be at a higher academic level. But it is also for the final exam papers where there may be the most help available, because your supervision hours are more.
Christina Skytte Møller, Chief Consultant for the Department of Mechanics and Electronics at the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg
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Utilise the supervisor’s capacity

The supervisor’s broad knowledge and deep insight in your field of study and experience with writing assignments of various formats (bachelor’s, thesis, etc.) make them an invaluable resource. They can help you find relevant theories, methods, and literature, create structure in the process, and provide feedback that can elevate the level of your work. At the same time, they can help keep you motivated in an often lonely and challenging process.

Finding a topic is always the most challenging part for many students. What topic should you write about? And how do you find a topic? Some can easily find it because there is something they find super interesting, but there are also those who do not have the clearest idea of what they should work on.

Christina Skytte Møller, Chief Consultant for the Department of Mechanics and Electronics at the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg

To ensure good collaboration, it is first and foremost about being prepared. When you meet with your supervisor, you should have a clear agenda and know what you want to discuss. Maybe you have questions about the theory, maybe you are seeking feedback on specific sections, or maybe you want to air a new angle.

Preparation shows respect for the supervisor’s time and ensures that the meetings are productive. Another important part of the process is being open to criticism. Feedback from your supervisor is a gift you should accept, even though it can be hard to hear that something is not working. Criticism is about making your paper better, so use it actively to improve your work. If something is unclear, ask about it. Better to ask one time too many than one time too few.

It is important that you do not wait too long but reach out in good time. Time can suddenly slip away. Now, one should not generalise, but I think generally with engineering students, many of them are introverted by nature, and it is important as a supervisor to say that they should remember to ask and use the supervisor, says Christina Skytte Møller.
Christina Skytte Møller, Chief Consultant for the Department of Mechanics and Electronics at the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg

She also points out that some supervisors are good at noticing when a student needs a little nudge to reach out. Here, it can be a good idea to align expectations with your supervisor and perhaps make a plan for how many meetings you should have during the project.

Derfor er det en god idé at skrive med en virksomhed

How do you use your supervisor best?

1. Be prepared for meetings
Your supervisor’s time is valuable, so it is important to come prepared. Make an agenda for each meeting and preferably send it in advance. Consider what you want to discuss: What questions are you stuck with? Which parts of your work would you like feedback on? Are there new ideas you want to try out?
2. Be open to criticism
Feedback from your supervisor is a gift, even though it can be hard to hear that something is not working. Remember, criticism is part of the process – and it is about making your paper better. Ask about the criticism if something is unclear, and use it actively to improve your work.
3. Take responsibility for the process
Although your supervisor is there to help, it is your task. You must drive the process yourself and take responsibility for your schedule. Agree on clear deadlines with your supervisor – and keep them. It shows that you take your work seriously – and it makes it easier for your supervisor to help you.
4. Ask for sparring, not answers
Your supervisor is not there to solve all your problems but to help you find solutions. Use your supervisor as a sparring partner to test your ideas, discuss theories, or consider alternative methods.
5. Be honest about challenges
If you get stuck or have problems with motivation, say so. Your supervisor has experience helping students through difficult periods and can often provide good advice on how to move forward.
6. Use the supervisor strategically
Consider when and how you best use your supervisor. Should they read entire chapters or only give feedback on specific sections? Should they help you clarify your research question or guide you in data analysis?

Remember, it is your responsibility

You must also remember that it is your responsibility to drive the process forward. Although your supervisor is there to help, it is your task, and you must take the lead. This means you must take responsibility for your schedule, agree on deadlines with your supervisor – and, of course, keep them.

Finally, you should use your supervisor strategically. Consider when and how you best use their help. Should they read entire chapters or only give feedback on specific sections? Should they help you clarify your research question or guide you in data analysis? Only by being aware of your needs and clear about your expectations can you get the most out of the collaboration.

10 tips for your exam preparation

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