Classes officially end on December 4 for University of Toronto students. With final examinations starting on December 9 and ending December 20, students are given five days to prepare for a two-week stretch of intense and stressful studying.
Many on-campus organizations recognize the value of taking breaks to de-stress. Clubs such as the Arts & Science Student Union and University College Literary and Athletic Society are hosting pre-season events for students to relax and prepare themselves before the start of examinations.
Other clubs believe that a change in a student’s study environment can be a great way for them to prepare for their tests and connect with other exhausted peers. Rooms all over campus, ranging from the Innis Residence Events Room to Woodsworth’s Kruger Hall, are being converted into open study spaces in preparation for exam season.
The University of Toronto is offering a wide variety of exam de-stress and test preparation events. These events are free for all U of T students, and are a great way to relax or review for your exams this year.
NANCY JI/THE VARSITY
Innis Exam Jam
Coordinator: Innis Residence Council
Events
December 1: Innis Residence Council Potluck
5:00 pm, Innis Residence Events Room
December 2: Yoga with Jenny
7:00 pm, Innis Residence Events Room
December 3: Apples to Apples with Fresh Apples
7:00 pm, Innis Residence Fish Bowl
December 4: Video Game Breather Night
9:00 pm, Innis Residence fourth Floor, TV Room
December 5: Skate’n Create
5:00 pm, Varsity Arena
December 6: Post-it Note Art and parfaits
2:00 pm, Innis Residence Events Room
December 11-19: Open Study Space
The Residence Events Room will convert into a 24-hour study space with hot beverages and healthy snacks for all students. This conversion will last the entire exam season.
Goals
The Innis Exam Jam includes a host of recreational activities meant to help all University of Toronto students cope with exams, and opens up Innis Residence as a space for studying.
University of Toronto Mississauga Exam Jam
Coordinator: UTM Health & Counselling Faculty Centre
Event
December 4: Exam Jam
University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) will be holding a campus-wide Exam Jam.
The event will feature instructor-led study sessions for subjects including biology, sociology, and linguistics. Seminars that focus on answering multiple-choice questions and writing essays and short answer questions will also be provided.
The classes will be held across Mississauga campus. Class-specific details can be found on UTM Exam Jam’s Facebook page.
Goals
The day-long event combines study-intensive review sessions with engaging activities that aim to maintain students’ mental health throughout the exam period. The faculty hopes that these events will establish healthy exam habits for years to come.
NANCY JI/THE VARSITY
Newman Centre Catholic Chaplaincy exam prep
Coordinator: Newman Centre Catholic Chaplaincy
Event
December 2 & December 11: Exam Season Survival Kits
Dec. 2, 4:00 pm–5:00 pm & Dec. 11, 11:00 am–12:00 pm on the corner of St. George and Hoskin, outside the Newman Centre
The survival kits contain hot chocolate, candy canes, granola bars, pencils, pens, papers, and a few jokes for students.
December 4–19: Open exam prep and study space
10:00 am–6:00 pm, Newman Centre, 89 St. George Street.
The Newman Centre will host additional study spaces with coffee and study snacks for students. These study spaces will be available Monday to Friday until the end of exam season. Exam season survival kits will also be available for pick up during these times.
Goals
The Newman Centre Study Space provides a place where students can relax and spend time with their peers. The food and survival kits are intended to assist students with the pressure of exam season.
De-stress at the Office
Coordinator: University of Toronto Muslim Students’ Association (MSA)
Event
December 2–6: De-Stress Hour
12:00 pm-1:00 pm, 21 Sussex Avenue, Room 505.
The MSA is offering drained students a space to enjoy tea, hot chocolate, and board games. The event is a way for Uof Tstudents to connect with the club’s executive members and to foster a closer sense of community in the MSA.
Goals
With a good reception from students, the MSA is planning on making the de-stress hour a regular program throughout the spring semester. The office would be available each day of the week, and students would be able to regularly drop by for a hot drink and board games.
The Exam Jam: review, refresh, de-stress!
Coordinator: Arts & Science Student Union (ASSU), other on-campus organizations
Event
December 3 –5: Review Sessions
The review sessions are instructor-led study groups, generally for large first- and second-year courses in the Faculty of Arts & Science. About 20 courses are being including several courses in economics, statistics, chemistry, and biology.
December 4–19: Exam Prep and Open Study Space
The ASSU and other campus organizations are offering open exam prep spaces for students. These spaces are open to all students in all courses. Some study spaces are open at Woodsworth, Innis, and UC throughout the exam period. Over a dozen rooms in Sid Smith are available for studying between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 5.
December 5: Sid Smith Activity Day
A plethora of free recreational activities are available for students in Sid Smith including free massages, pet therapy sessions, button making, and various free snacks and hot chocolate.
Goals
Instructor-led review sessions are a great alternative to office hours for students who are struggling with difficult material.
Relaxing activities provide a much-needed break for tired brains.
Yoga, meditation, and art
NANCY JI/THE VARSITY
Coordinator: University College Literary and Athletic Society (UCLit)
Event
December 5: Yoga, Meditation, and Art
12:15 pm, Hart House East Common Room
This exam de-stressor is intended to provide students with a chance to relax with a free session of yoga and meditation, followed by food and an art session. Students are urged to bring their own yoga mats if they own one, but UCLit will provide a yoga mat for you if you do not. The yoga session will be led by Hayley Lowe, a Toronto based teacher who specializes in working with children.
Goals
Yoga can boost students’ creativity and confidence, and can be a great physical activity during a study break. This free yoga session is designed to give students an opportunity to de-stress during exams.
NANCY JI/THE VARSITY
Cram Jam
Coordinator: Upper-Year and Full-Time Students’ Directors
Event
December 4: Woodsworth College Students’ Association Cram Jam!
10:00 am–5:00 pm, Kruger Hall, Woodsworth College
The Cram Jam will consist of open, quiet study space for all students with free snacks and light refreshments throughout the day. Students are free to study and snack as they wish throughout the day.
Goals
The space provides an open and relaxing environment for students to catch up on their studies in time for the exam season.
