10/110, 2/10…the numbers indicating the seats available in library are always frightening in exam season. Everyone rushes to the library in early morning, occupying a seat like grabbing discounted products in supermarkets on Christmas Eve. However, the library is neither the only study spot on campus not the best one for everyone. Here blogger Angel introduces and compares different study spots on campus. You have numerous choices other than the library.
Absolute silence and concentration
Library is the most common study place on campus. It is suitable for you if you can only stay focused in a quiet environment. The third to fifth floors are classified as quiet zone, and there are two silent study rooms on the floor two extension. In the library, there are table dividers which eliminate distraction and give you private study. It is also a perfect place to study if you are going to pull an all-nighter or prefer reading physical books for your assignments.
Yet, the environment of library does not fit everyone’s study habit. For example, I can hardly concentrate in complete silence, and the atmosphere of library too stressful for me. If the first two floors of library are overcrowded, you may try out the following options.
Studying with some noise
If you prefer studying with some noise or learning with peers, the study space in your departmental buildings is nice. There are tables with sockets and chairs that allow you study comfortably with your electronic devices. At the same time, the footstep sound and others’ conversation in the background create a more casual environment. You can freely discuss with your study groups too. I really love studying in the Faculty of Arts building because I can directly grab a seat and work on my assignment after my seminars there. The setting of the learning grids in the Rootes building and University House are good study spots too. They are located in the central campus and Westwood campus respectively, so you can choose them according to your need. Cafés like Curiositea and Pret are in the vicinity, so you can take a coffee break during your stressful fight against a deadline. The Green Room in the Student Union building is also a good place for you to take a warm lunch break since there is a microwave for you to heat up your food. They help you take a balance between work and rest.
Cosiness and relaxation
Study is not always a pressure cooker. Sometimes you have no deadline ahead, and just need to do some reading and prepare for the next seminar. Then, you can go to the art centre with big armchairs and occasional piano music. In the Chaplaincy, you can even sit on the ground with the soft cushions and bean bags supporting your back. Lay down, put your laptop on your lap, and enjoy your study with a sense of home.
In addition to these places, many societies organise study groups in exam seasons. They usually book a room on campus and let participants study together with the themes of the societies. For example, the Baking Society provided mouth-watering chocolate cupcakes and cookies in its studying session, and we drank bubble tea while studying with the Bubble Tea Society. It is difficult to occupy a study place in exam season. The student societies not only provide a decent study room, but also add more pleasure and colour to your dull revision. Stay tuned on their social media pages if you are tired of studying alone with just your laptops and paper.
Everyone stays focused and motivated in different environments. The stairs on Piazza, benches outside Dirty Duck and the library café are learning spaces too. While you are looking for the best study spot, don’t forget to take a rest too. You can do some exercises in the Sports Centre, watch a movie in the Student Cinema, or just walk along the lake behind Bluebell. There are a lot of rest spots on campus too.
Where is your favourite place to study on campus? Let us know on Twitter @warwicklibrary, on Instagram @warwicklibrary, or by emailing us at libraryblogs@warwick.ac.uk
With exam season upon us, the Study Blog has lots of resources available to help with revision, exams, and other assignments. Check out Edward’s post on A Fresher’s Guide to the Library, take a look at Angel’s Fool-Proof Guide to Different Types of Exams, or take a look at our Study Hacks section for everything from the pomodoro technique to revising without a timetable.
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