{"id":32694,"date":"2026-11-03T12:37:14","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T04:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=oasis-news&p=32694"},"modified":"2026-11-03T12:37:19","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T04:37:19","slug":"you-made-it-how-to-finish-semester-strong","status":"publish","type":"oasis-news","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/oasis-news\/you-made-it-how-to-finish-semester-strong\/","title":{"rendered":"You made it: how to finish semester strong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reading time: 4 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the semester is closer than it has ever been! But somehow, so are all of your deadlines! So, the question is, \u201cHow do I stay motivated to do well in my final assessments when the break is so close?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following tips and recommendations will help you finish the semester strong!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Keep track of everything:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Even a simple checklist can keep you on track! Having a list of everything that needs to be done will help you monitor your progress and hold yourself accountable. You can even go a step further and create a Kanban board, where you can visually track the status of every task as either \u201cTo do\u201d, \u201cIn Progress\u201d, or \u201cComplete\u201d. If you prefer to work by due dates, making sure all your assignments and exams are in your calendar will help you allocate enough time to complete them in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Know your strengths and weaknesses:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Think about the areas of your course where you feel confident. These are things to be proud of! Recognising what you\u2019re good at can give you a confidence boost when final assessments start to feel overwhelming. They might not even be directly related to your course material. Maybe you\u2019re good at managing your time, staying calm under pressure, or presenting in front of a crowd.  Reflecting on what has already gone well can remind you how much you\u2019ve already learned and improved this semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, everyone has areas where they struggle, and that\u2019s okay! Instead of seeing weaknesses as failures, you should see them as opportunities to improve and learn. Identify the topics, skills, or types of assessments that you find more challenging, and focus on making progress in these areas rather than becoming an expert. Creating SMART goals can help you break the work into smaller, achievable goals rather than focusing on perfection. Don\u2019t be shy and ask for help when you need it. Your lecturers and tutors are here to teach you, so don\u2019t be afraid to reach out if you have a question. Remember: You don\u2019t have to be good at everything. You just need to be willing to keep learning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Use services at Curtin:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ranging from study guidance to career advice, there are several services available to students at Curtin that will be able to help you out! Some of them include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peer Academic Mentoring<\/a>
Receive individual academic support from a fellow student, who can assist you with assessment planning, referencing, exam strategies and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtin Careers<\/a>
Book a Careers Conversation to discuss your future goals and how to achieve them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtin Connect<\/a>
Visit their FAQ page<\/a> for assistance with enrolment, graduation, and more about the student experience. If you still have a question, you can visit them in person or submit an online enquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makerspace<\/a>
Need to create something for an assignment or want advice on a personal project? The Makerspace has almost anything your heart desires! 3D printer? Sewing machine? Laser cutter? The Makerspace has it all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Look after yourself:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, make sure to take care of yourself! At the end of the day, your grades aren\u2019t nearly as important as your mental and physical wellbeing. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and eating, drinking water, and showering regularly. Though you might be busy studying at the end of the semester, it is important to keep in touch with the people in your life, even if that means grabbing a quick lunch with your friends or calling your mum as you drive home from work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If life is feeling like a lot at this point in the semester, there are people you can reach out to. Curtin provides some free and confidential services that are here to support students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Wellbeing Advisory Service<\/a>
If you are struggling and don\u2019t know where to go, you can contact the Student Wellbeing Advisory Service via phone, email, or visit them in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychological Counselling Services<\/a>
There are counsellors on campus who can provide short-term therapy to students dealing with issues affecting their life or study. Go to their page to find out how to book an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the semester can be stressful, but it can also be an opportunity to reflect on how far you have come. Use the summer break to celebrate all the things you achieved this semester, no matter how small they are! You know you deserve it! However, it is important not to be discouraged by things you find difficult. Use them as opportunities to learn and grow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you prepare for your final assessments, remember that you don\u2019t have to do it all alone. Visit the UniSkills website<\/a> to learn more about effective study habits, such as scheduling your studies and setting SMART goals, and go to any of the previously mentioned services for further support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The break is almost here! Keep going, look after yourself, and finish the semester strong!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by Tobey Dore, Peer Academic Mentor<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The end of the semester is closer than it has ever been! But somehow, so are all of your deadlines! So, the question is, \u201cHow do I stay motivated to do well in my final assessments when the break is so close?\u201d
\nThe following tips and recommendations will help you finish the semester strong!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4479,"featured_media":32695,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"4555,7800,7192,8447,8388,5719","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_oasis-categories":0,"footnotes":""},"oasis-categories":[139,147,149],"class_list":["post-32694","oasis-news","type-oasis-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","oasis-categories-library","oasis-categories-study-skills","oasis-categories-wellbeing"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Curtin-Library-Preview-DZuks-November-2025-46-1920x500.jpg","author_meta":{"first_name":"Christine","last_name":"Huggins","display_name":"Christine Huggins"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/32694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oasis-news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/32694\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-categories?post=32694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}